Crew defenders Mo Farsi and Sean Zawadski, as well as midfielder Max Arfsten, will be fined by the MLS for inciting and/or escalating a mass confrontation during the Hell is Real Derby match against FC Cincinnati on July 25, according to a league release.
Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela, already suspended for one match for receiving a red card, received an additional match suspension (ie., two matches total) plus undisclosed fines for violent conduct during stoppage time against the Crew. No Crew players received suspensions by the MLS disciplinary committee.
The league noted the Crew have violated the mass confrontation policy three times this season and issued fines to the team and head coach Laurent Courtois. Cincinnati forward Ayoub
Jabbari and assistant coach Kenny Arena were also fined.
Three minutes into second-half stoppage time, with the Crew ahead 2-1, Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela committed a yellow-card foul against Columbus forward Taha Habroune. The hit led to both teams scuffling at the site of the foul, and Valenzuela earning the red card for violent conduct.
Farsi had to be held back by teammates Nariman Akhundzada and Nicholas Hagen to keep him from rushing into the visitors' tunnel. Crew defender and captain Sean Zawadzki was similarly stopped by Laurent Courtois and members of Cincinnati's staff.
A video from 10TV WBNS sports reporter Adam King showed the teams yelling at each other and being separated.
The Hell is Real rivalry spilled over into the hallway after the match.
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) July 26, 2026
Crew players and FC Cincinnati players were yelling back and forth and had to be broken up in the hallway.
Here is a minute of that interaction: pic.twitter.com/7I8VgAaKcQ
As of July 30, the Crew will have no suspended players entering their Aug. 1 match against Inter Miami.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: MLS fines three Columbus Crew players for Hell is Real scuffle
