3 coaches charged after viral video of on-field fight at youth football game in CarnegieCARNEGIE, Pennsylvania. —Youth football coaches caught fighting during a game at Carnegie now face charges. The Carnegie Police Department announced charges against Dequay Canton, Carlynton’s head coach, and two Keystone Oaks coaches, Joseph Kubiak and Frank McGrath. “After watching that video several times, Carlynton’s trainer was the aggressor. He’s the one who started it all. He’s the one who quit when he pulled out of the fight,” said Carnegie Police Chief Jeffrey Kennedy. Pittsburgh Action News 4 has learned that Kubiak is also an assistant superintendent in the Keystone Oaks School District. The district issued a statement regarding its involvement: School Board President Emily Snyder, on behalf of the Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors, issued the following statement: On Sunday, August 30, 2026, the Superintendent and School Board of Trustees were informed of an incident that occurred during a youth soccer game between the Carlynton youth soccer program and the Keystone Oaks youth soccer program that involved a district employee, Mr. Joseph Kubiak, Assistant Superintendent. of Operations. The youth football league is operated by Steel City Youth Football and is independent of the Keystone Oaks School District. While this incident occurred outside of the employee’s professional duties, the district takes the incident seriously and is investigating the employee’s involvement in the incident. Additionally, the district was informed today that Mr. Kubiak was issued a summary criminal citation. In the nine years that Mr. Kubiak has worked for the Keystone Oaks School District, he has conducted himself with the highest level of professionalism. At this time, we are unable to provide further comment as this is a personnel matter and the Pennsylvania School Code prohibits public comment on personnel matters. Chief Kennedy said no parents or coaches reported the fight. He said EMS called their officers and one of the parents recorded everything. “I initially started recording just by his body language. I had a feeling something was about to happen,” Ryan Crux told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Jordan Cioppa. Crux’s 9-year-old son plays for the Carlynton Little Cougars D2 team. He recorded the now-viral video at the team’s game against Keystone Oaks on Saturday at Carnegie. The game was played by third and fourth grade students who are 8 and 9 years old. The video, which has since received national attention, shows a fight between two coaches from both teams before several staff members intervene. The Steel City Youth Football League said both coaches who were removed from the game have been placed on indefinite leave while league officials conduct an investigation. According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the Honus Wagner soccer field before 6 p.m. Saturday. Once they arrived, a father showed authorities the video of the fight in the field. The officer who wrote the criminal complaint against Canton identified him as the aggressor. Canton was seen yelling at players, referees and Keystone Oaks coach Frank McGrath. McGrath approached Canton and pushed him, causing Canton to punch him. A fight broke out as more coaches tried to intervene. Keystone Oaks trainer Joseph Kubiak ran toward Canton, who responded by tackling Kubiak. The two then began exchanging blows. Canton, McGrath and Kubiak are charged with disorderly conduct. Canton, who claims one of the coaches used a racial slur, is also accused of harassment. “As a black man, the entire football and cheerleading staff was harassing me, trying to attack me. All I could think about was fight or flight,” Canton said in part. “I make no apologies for standing up for my children who saw injustice and were victims of racial slurs.” Chief Kennedy said that so far no one has corroborated that information. “No one has come forward to support those statements. Through a third party we contacted the referees, the referees said that he never approached them. And, if there were racial insults, that did not justify the fight,” Kennedy said. In a statement from the Carnegie Police Department, the punches thrown by Canton “could have caused substantial damage” and “definitely caused serious inconvenience.” The statement goes on to say that while Keystone Oaks trainers were involved in the fight, it is not believed they were the ones who started it. Crux, the parent who posted the video, was informed Tuesday that he is banned from all Steel City Youth Soccer League events. The Notice of Permanent Expulsion read in part: “He previously received verbal warnings regarding his conduct on the practice field and his interactions with individuals associated with the program. Despite those warnings and opportunities to correct the behaviors, additional incidents occurred. The board considered those incidents together, including public activity on social media and the circumstances surrounding the recent game incident.” He said he believes the notice was retaliation against him for posting the video. Canton, McGrath and Kubiak are scheduled to face a judge on their charges in October.
