Douglas College ends men’s soccer program early following on-field brawl

A bench-clearing brawl ended the Douglas College Royals a month early.

Douglas College administrators suspended its men’s soccer program for the remainder of the 2026-27 season following a game against Capilano University on Oct. 4, which ended prematurely when a fight broke out between the players. 

Both teams, which play in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), received red cards in the lead-up to the altercation.

Video footage was subsequently posted to Reddit, showing several chaotic scuffles occurring simultaneously across the field.

Brian McLennon, director of athletics and recreation at Douglas College, confirmed the suspension, saying the behaviour went beyond the individual players who were penalized during the match.

“The conduct of the October 4 incident does not reflect Douglas College’s values and principles,” McLennon said. “The inappropriate conduct extended beyond the players who received red cards. The team left the technical area of the bench without permission and engaged in a mass confrontation on the field.”

McLennon said those actions escalated the situation, contributed to the disorder and put the safety of those involved at risk.

The scrap followed a closely contested game that saw Douglas College take an early lead before Capilano mounted a second-half comeback, tying the game in the 73rd minute.

Tensions boiled over in stoppage time, when a series of disciplinary incidents resulted in multiple red cards and officials ending the match early.

The game was officially recorded as a 1-1 draw.

Rather than disciplining only individual players, Douglas College decided the seriousness and scale of the confrontation warranted action against the entire program.

“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand it affects the players deeply,” McLennon said.”Because of the scale of what happened, and our responsibility for the safety of our students and the teams they play, the incident was addressed at a program level.”

The college said it is providing direct support to affected players, including answering questions about how the suspension could affect their athletic eligibility.

An internal review of the incident remains underway, with Douglas College continuing to work alongside PACWEST.

McLennon said the college cannot provide a timeline for the review or comment on individual players or potential disciplinary outcomes while the process continues.

Any further decisions will be handled through the college’s established procedures, including privacy protections for those involved.

PACWEST has also acknowledged the suspension, confirming Douglas College would not participate in the remainder of the 2026 regular season.

“The Conference is assessing the impacts on the remaining men’s soccer schedule and student-athletes,” the league said in a statement.

The league added that scheduled games between the Vancouver Island University Mariners and Capilano Blues would proceed unaffected.

The suspension effectively ended the Royals’ 2026 campaign, with questions remaining about the implications for individual athletes and the program’s future.