Columbus Crew-FC Cincinnati rivalry boils over with ugly tunnel confrontation - The Columbus Dispatch

What the report says

The Columbus Dispatch reported that the first 2026 “Hell is Real” meeting between the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati ended with a stoppage-time confrontation that carried into the postgame tunnel area. Columbus was leading 2-1 in Columbus when Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela fouled Crew forward Taha Habroune three minutes into second-half stoppage time, according to the report.

The Dispatch said Valenzuela initially received a yellow card for the challenge and was then shown a red card for violent conduct after players converged near the foul. Crew forward Hugo Picard was described as the first Columbus player to confront Valenzuela, with several teammates joining in as they reacted to the hit on Habroune. The match resumed briefly before the final whistle confirmed Columbus’ 2-1 win.

After the game, tensions continued near the visitor tunnel. The Dispatch reported that Crew players including Mo Farsi and captain Sean Zawadzki had to be restrained at different moments by teammates, coach Laurent Courtois and staff from Cincinnati. A video shared by a 10TV WBNS reporter showed players from both teams shouting and being separated, but the article noted it did not show a physical clash.

Crew players framed their response as defending a teammate from what they viewed as a dangerous play, while also acknowledging the scene was not ideal for spectators. Courtois, in his first Hell is Real match as interim coach, said emotions escalated after “something stupid” happened, but he kept his postgame message focused on the match itself.