Crew, Atlanta Coaches Scuffle After Stoppage-Time Foul

Tensions boiled over in the final minutes of Columbus' 3-1 win over Atlanta United.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:07pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the physical confrontation between soccer coaches, with sharp geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the raw emotion and tension of the moment.The heated sideline confrontation between rival MLS coaches underscores the intensity of the matchup and the high stakes as both teams fight for playoff positioning.Columbus Today

A scuffle broke out between the coaching staffs of the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United in the final minutes of their April 4 match, after a foul call and heated exchange between Crew coach Henrik Rydstrom and Atlanta defender Elias Baez. The incident led to red and yellow cards being issued, as well as fines for the coaches involved.

Why it matters

Tensions between the two Eastern Conference rivals spilled over onto the sidelines, highlighting the intensity of the matchup and the high stakes as both teams look to gain an edge in the playoff race.

The details

In the 92nd minute, Baez was issued a yellow card for a foul on Crew midfielder Hugo Picard near the Columbus bench. Rydstrom then told Baez to "shut up," prompting Atlanta coach Tata Martino and his staff to confront the Crew coaches. Assistant coaches Phil Boerger and Josh Williams became involved in the scuffle before the teams were separated.

  • The incident occurred 2 minutes into second-half stoppage time on April 4, 2026.
  • Martino received a red card, while Rydstrom and Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost received yellow cards during the game.

The players

Henrik Rydstrom

Head coach of the Columbus Crew.

Tata Martino

Head coach of Atlanta United.

Elias Baez

Defender for Atlanta United.

Phil Boerger

Assistant coach for the Columbus Crew.

Josh Williams

Assistant coach for the Columbus Crew.

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What they’re saying

“I think that showed the passion. We stood up for each other in a good way. I didn't do anything, and my team and my players behaved great. It was good to see.”

— Henrik Rydstrom, Head Coach, Columbus Crew

“At the end of the day, no matter what, we fight together. We're sticking by each other's side. Everyone's coming in and defending each other. We're not going to let a team come around and push us around, whether you're on a bench, whether on the field, everyone is together.”

— Sean Zawadzki, Defender, Columbus Crew

What’s next

Martino will serve a one-game suspension for his red card, while Rydstrom, Boerger and Williams were fined by the league for their involvement in the incident.

The takeaway

The heated exchange between the coaching staffs underscores the intense rivalry between the Crew and Atlanta United, two Eastern Conference contenders who will likely be battling for playoff positioning throughout the season.