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Exclusive | Yankees fans will be banned from Game 5 after Mookie Betts interference in World Series

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Exclusive | Yankees fans will be banned from Game 5 after Mookie Betts interference in World Series

Two Yankees fans will be banned from the Stadium for Game 5 of the World Series Wednesday night after aggressively interfering with Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts Tuesday night in the first inning during Game 4, per a league official.

Austin Capobianco, a Yankees season-ticket holder who was wearing a road gray Yankees jersey in the front row down the right field line, grabbed Betts’ glove as he made a catch at the wall, and Capobianco’s friend, John Peter, grabbed Betts’ right hand as Capobianco pried the ball from the glove.

They will have their ticket prices refunded.

It’s unclear at this time if the ban will extend beyond Wednesday’s game.

Yankees fans Austin Capobianco (gray jersey) and John Peter (white jersey) try to rip the ball out of the glove of Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 29, 2024. Getty Images
Yankees fans Austin Capobianco (gray jersey) and John Peter (white jersey) rip the ball out of the glove of Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 29, 2024. Getty Images

Capobianco told ESPN Tuesday night at a bar near Yankee Stadium after being ejected that he and Peter have long been prepared for such a scenario.

“We always joke about the ball in our area,” the 38-year-old told ESPN. “We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up.

“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”

Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, who hit the fly ball to begin the bottom of the first, was called out on fan interference.

The fans initially told ESPN that they were told they’d be allowed to return for Wednesday’s Game 5, which the Yankees forced with their 11-4 win Tuesday to avoid a World Series sweep.


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“I know when I’m in the wrong and as soon as I did it, I was like, ‘Boys I’m out of here,’” Capobianco told ESPN. “I patrol that wall and they know that.”

Capobianco’s brother Darren told The Athletic that Betts was cursing at them.

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) makes a catch at the wall in the first inning in Game 4 of the World Series before being interfered with by fans on Oct. 29, 2024. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) reacts after two Yankees fans rip the ball out of his glove in the first inning in Game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 29, 2024. Jason Szenes / New York Post

“I just see the ball kind of — I don’t want to say (go) up for grabs, if that makes sense,” Darren Capobianco told The Athletic of brother Austin’s interference on the play. “And then Mookie was swearing at us. Not good.”

While Betts appeared to be furious in the moment, he chose his words carefully after the game.

“When it comes to the person and play, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said. “We lost. It’s irrelevant. I’m fine, he’s fine. Everything’s cool. We lost the game, that’s what I’m focused on. Turn the page and get ready for [Wednesday.]”

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