The parents of two boys on opposing rec league football teams are pressing charges against each other's sons, ages 13 and 12, in the aftermath of a fight on the field Oct. 8 in Joppa, according to a police report.
Names of those involved were redacted by the Harford County Sheriff's Office because police are not permitted to identify juveniles facing charges.
The first charges were filed last Friday, according to police.
At about 7:18 p.m. during the Oct. 8 game between Edgewood and Fallston rec football teams at Robert Copenhaver Park in Joppa, a fight broke out on the football field that was broken up by a coach, according to the police report.
The parent of the 13-year-old, who is from Aberdeen and was playing for the Edgewood team, reported the matter to police last Friday, saying he wanted charges brought against the 12-year-old, who lives in Edgewood but plays for the Fallston team, police said.
The father of the 13-year-old Aberdeen player told police the 12-year-old got up and started punching his son after a play and a fight broke out that had to be stopped by a coach, according to the police report.
When the parents of the 12-year-old from Edgewood found out their son was being charged, they pursued charges against the 13-year-old, alleging that the older boy had pulled their son's facemask and "slammed" him to the ground during the play immediately before the fight, according to the police report.
Both boys have been charged with second-degree assault, according to police.
This is at least the second incident in youth football programs this year.
In August, the Bel Air Terps 12 Red season was canceled because of what was ruled inappropriate parent behavior.