MLB Mulls Harsher Penalties for Fan Behavior

Major League Baseball officials will be entering into a planned discussion to hash out the parameters of potential stadium policy changes meant to check unruly fans.

The policy considerations have come to the forefront after Monday night’s game at Fenway Park, when more than 30 Red Sox fans were asked to leave the stadium, according to FOX Business.

Following the game on Monday, the Red Sox issued an apology to the Orioles on behalf of their unruly fans, who were reported hurling peanuts and racial slurs at outfielder Adam Jones.

According to Jones, this was not the first time he has experienced racially charged heckling at Fenway Park, and he is not the only player to report similar treatment from Orioles fans.

At Tuesday night’s game, an incident was reported to Red Sox security when a fan directed racial slurs at another fan. The offender was told he is no longer welcome in the stadium.

Following the second night’s incident, the team issued a statement saying, "There is no place for racial epithets at Fenway Park, in baseball, or in our society. The Red Sox have turned the matter over to the Boston Police Department, who will further investigate with their civil rights unit and determine whether it merits further action,” according to Sports Illustrated.

MLB officials will accept input from all 30 teams, with recommendations on how best to improve security and the shared stadium experience, with consideration given to harsher penalties or stadium bans for fans exhibiting inappropriate language or behavior.

In a statement Tuesday, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred said the current state of affairs is “completely unacceptable.”

“Any individual who behaves in such offensive fashion will be immediately removed from the ballpark and subject to further action. The behavior of these few ignorant individuals does not reflect the millions of great baseball fans who attend our games,” he said.