Miguel Borja stood near the center of a mass brawl that saw six players red-carded during Club América’s 1–0 friendly defeat to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
The fixture at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, unraveled during the closing moments when a challenge on the pitch sparked a bench-clearing melee. While video footage showed the Colombian forward caught in the immediate vicinity of the altercation, he did not actively participate in the punches and shoves that followed.
The loss marks another setback for manager Guillermo Almada’s side during the November international break. For the Red Bulls, the victory follows a strong finish to their Major League Soccer campaign, though the match will be remembered more for the chaos than the final score.
DUBS IN THE CHAT pic.twitter.com/wkCk0002Mp
The Genesis of the Melee
The trouble started in the 58th minute after Nehuén Benedetti scored the game’s only goal for the hosts. As tempers flared during a contested ball near the penalty area, New York defender Devin Padelford grabbed Adrián Fernández by the neck, prompting Club América lateral Emilio Lara to intervene.
That initial confrontation triggered a widespread exchange of punches and shoves involving players from both squads. Goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota attempted to pull combatants apart without success, while Andy Rojas traded manotazos with Dagoberto Espinoza and Ramón Juárez as the violence spilled past the endline.
Spectators in the stands added to the disruption by hurling plastic bottles, cups, and liquid containers toward the pitch. The flying debris prolonged the delay as match officials struggled to restore order in the stadium.
Match Officials Hand Out Six Red Cards
After reviewing the incident and regaining control of the venue, the referee issued straight red cards to six players. Club América saw Dagoberto Espinoza, Emilio Lara, and Ramón Juárez dismissed from the pitch.
The New York Red Bulls absorbed an equal disciplinary toll, losing Andy Rojas, Ronald Donkor, and goalscorer Nehuén Benedetti to subsequent expulsions. Despite being tracked by pitch-side cameras walking through the perimeter of the fighting, Borja avoided any disciplinary sanction from the officials.
Neither Club América nor the New York Red Bulls issued official statements addressing the player behavior on their social media channels in the immediate aftermath, leaving their official feeds populated solely by the final match score.
Return to League Action
Both clubs must quickly pivot from the New Jersey incidents back to their respective domestic campaigns. The New York Red Bulls face D.C. United on Saturday, November 21, 2026, in MLS play.
Club América travels to face Tigres on Saturday, November 21, 2026, for the final round of the Liga MX Apertura 2026 regular season.
