Arena Football Teams Fined Over Canceled Game

WHITE PLAINS, NY — In the wake of an arrest for thefts during New York Streets games at the Westchester County Center, the National Arena League commissioner has decided to fine both teams. Commissioner Chris Siegfried issued a statement regarding Sunday night's New York Streets home game versus the Carolina Cobras.

Westchester County police arrested a member of the production team Thursday and charged her with stealing items on two separate occasions from locker rooms and changing rooms at the count center.

Aniyah Booker, 18, of Hamden, Connecticut, faces two larceny charges.

The second of the thefts occurred Sunday before half-time, and the game was canceled after the thefts were reported.

Siegfried said the circumstances of Sunday's game were extremely unfortunate.

"We take these matters very seriously, and as commissioner of the NAL, it is my responsibility to ensure our fans and sponsors that such mistakes will not happen again," he said in a prepared statement.

Siegfried said the breakdowns that occurred were due to policies that were either not in place or not followed properly.

"I take full responsibility for these breakdowns," he said. "I addressed these issues with both teams, and the improved policies are to be implemented immediately."

Fines will be leveled against both teams and Carolina Coach Bill Back.

"The home team, the New York Streets are fined for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the league — for not providing adequate security, especially following a theft at a previous home game," Siegfried said.

The visiting team — the Carolina Cobras — was fined for not finishing the game, which was also conduct detrimental to the best interests of the league.

Back was suspended for one game — Saturday's game against the Columbus Lions. Siegfried said, while his intentions may have been to protect his players and the league, Back now understands that his decision had an adverse effect on the league.

"No coach should be placed in the position to make such a decision, and additional procedures are being implemented so that teams do not make these types of mistakes in the future," Siegfried said.

Additionally, he said, since the Cobras refused to complete Sunday's game, the Streets were awarded a win by forfeit.

"We owe it to our fans to play a complete game, and we owe it to our teams to provide adequate security," Siegfried said.

New York Streets owner Corey Galloway said, in a statement issued after the arrest of Booker, that he was outraged by her actions, which caused serious damage to the team, its fans and the league.

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