Report: NFL may end 49ers-Raiders game
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York said Monday he will recommend to the NFL that the annual preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders "at least be postponed for some period of time" following an outbreak of violence over the weekend.
Saturday's game between the cross-bay rivals was marred after two men were shot and wounded — one critically — outside San Francisco's Candlestick Park, while a man was beaten unconscious in a restroom.
"This is a game where you have a rivalry situation and, unfortunately, you have the worst segment from a very small segment of both fan bases that come and bring about this type of event," York said at press conference.
"It's our belief that we should recommend to the NFL that this game is at least postponed for some period of time."
York's comments follow an earlier report from the San Jose Mercury News, citing sources, that the game could be removed permanently from the teams' preseason schedules and partially replaced by a closed training camp scrimmage.
The 49ers also announced Monday a ban on tailgating once a game starts and following a game, adding that season ticket holders could have their passes revoked if they are caught misbehaving.
San Francisco police chief Greg Suhr said there were 70 ejections at the game, with 12 arrests.
Hospital officials on Monday upgraded the condition of two of those hurt. A 24-year-old man wearing a "F--- the 49ers" T-shirt who was shot four times in the stomach and the 26-year-old restroom beating victim were upgraded to fair condition, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The second shooting victim, 20, suffered only superficial wounds to his face, according to police.
A person of interest was identified by police in the incident involving the 20-year-old, while the gunman in the other shooting remained at large. Police confirmed both shootings happened around 8:00pm local time, shortly after the 49ers' 17-3 victory.
Police said they had also identified a person of interest in the restroom beating, described as a Samoan or Pacific Islander in his late 20s.
In a joint statement Sunday, San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan condemned the attacks, saying, "Violence will not be tolerated in either of our stadiums."
The two mayors called the incidents "completely unacceptable" and said they would be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
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