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To say the fallout to the incident between Karl Ouimette and Romeo Parkes sparked more conversation than the average USL game is an understatement. Fans from all over the country, New York supporters or not, reacted with a resoundingly similar tone.
Wow. I just watched the Ouimette incident. Unbelievable. Hope he's ok.
— Janel (@Janellias) May 8, 2016
Oh my God, Ouimette.... that's disgusting what happened. Hope he makes a full recovery soon #rbny
— Kyle Debelak (@Kyle_Debelak) May 8, 2016
Absolute disgrace. He better not see the field for a very long time. Hope Ouimette is okay. #NYRBII https://t.co/8A3G366eHZ
— Josh Gabriel (@Josh_Gabriel) May 8, 2016
.@USL an wild stud to a lower lumbar vertebrae could have paralyzed Ouimette. Insanely reckless & violent. No place for a player like that.
— FM DOOM (@FM_DOOM) May 8, 2016
@USL @FIFAcom That guy needs to sit for the rest of the season ... #OneYearSuspension #CouldHaveBrokenHisBack #Ouimette #IMFC
— MountTemple76 (@MountTemple76) May 8, 2016
This happened in the Pittsburgh match last night. Absolutely horrific and disgusting. All the best to Ouimette. https://t.co/RF00E8lOuH
— Charlie Hatch (@charliehatch_) May 8, 2016
Just because ouimette is ok does not mean the punishment for parkes should be less
— Eric Friedlander (@EF1234_1) May 8, 2016
Romeo Parkes @ovando678 takes the award for biggest scumbag in football. Good luck getting a job after this one.
— Daniel Thorpe (@Thorpedo95) May 8, 2016
Former players, coaches, and journalists from around the continent also weighed in on the incident in droves.
Parkes has lost his mind. Had to be restrained.
— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) May 8, 2016
He kicked Karl Ouivitette, who was also sent off. Ouiviette is still down#PGHvNY
In my 4+ yrs of covering the Hounds, this is ugliest incident I've seen.
— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) May 8, 2016
Stretcher coming out now.#USL #PGHvNY
My 2 cents - this guy ought to be banned for life. You can't do that https://t.co/KXeXGDk5Iw
— Mike Harris (@SIcomMike) May 8, 2016
This is disgusting and a disgrace. Parks shouldn't play for a longtime. Hope Ouimette is ok, bc doesn't look good. https://t.co/NPnJGWMmAM
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) May 8, 2016
Atrocious I'm hoping Karl Ouimette is not seriously injured As for Parkes, this is a criminal act. Should be banned https://t.co/LT6x4rUO6f
— @petkemike (@petkemike) May 8, 2016
I don’t know what preceded that attack on Ouimette, but it was premeditated and vicious. Hope @USL throws the book at him.
— Daniel Squizzato (@DanielSquizzato) May 8, 2016
Parks should be charged with assault. Hope Ouimette is ok. #Disgrace https://t.co/4FKYrqi8xT
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) May 8, 2016
I have personal relationships with players in the USL and I don't want my friends on the field with someone who did what Parkes did.
— Brendan Doherty (@DohertySoccer) May 8, 2016
Wow!!! Really.. Horrible scenes in the USL! Ouimette will be ok but what's this guy thinking! #redmist https://t.co/eafrVil3V6
— Terry Dunfield (@terry_dunf) May 8, 2016
New York Red Bulls teammates were understandably horrified by the incident and deeply concerned for Ouimette.
Absolutely the most shameful, cowardly thing I've ever seen on a soccer pitch. Thinking of you mate @karlouimette https://t.co/3VZ2B48V0d
— Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) May 8, 2016
All the positive energy,and hopefully you ok @karlouimette https://t.co/jJDDjLDiyq
— Felipe Martins (@FeliMartins8) May 8, 2016
Can't believe what I've just seen in that @NYRBII match. Shocking from the @PghRiverhounds player, thinking of you @karlouimette
— Sean Davis (@seanakiradavis) May 8, 2016
In turn, Romeo Parkes' apology did not satisfy all, with many looking at it as too little too late.
Parkes' apology doesn't read as though he Gets It, to be honest. Still attempts to mitigate his action, doesn't mention Ouimette at all.
— Steve Brisendine (@SteveBrisendine) May 8, 2016
If Parkes wasn't going to apologize to Ouimette, he shouldn't have apologized in the first place. Just empty otherwise.
— 32 Flags (@32flags) May 8, 2016
The Riverhounds supporters were understandably embarrassed by the incident.
We can't disagree with any of the reactions we're seeing tonight #UNLEASH
— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) May 8, 2016
We wanted the Hounds to get more coverage. Not like this...
— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) May 8, 2016
@AttitudeAJM @BrianSciaretta @USL as a Hounds fan, I never want to see him in our jersey again.
— Justin Ashcraft (@justashcraft) May 8, 2016
Meanwhile, the Riverhounds coach and captain weighed in condemning the incident while shocked by the uncharacteristic behavior for Parkes.
.@PghRiverhounds coach Mark Steffens on the Romeo Parkes incident. pic.twitter.com/CMbah5ZPA4
— Megan Ryan (@theothermegryan) May 8, 2016
.@PghRiverhounds captain Kevin Kerr on Romeo Parkes. pic.twitter.com/Pfn5tCBRdT
— Megan Ryan (@theothermegryan) May 8, 2016
Pittsburgh's owner wasn't a fan of the incident either.
I am still speechless! I apologize to @PghRiverhounds fans @karlouimette @SteelArmy for the actions that took place tonight. Intolerable
— Tuffy Shallenberger (@Tuffy_Shall) May 8, 2016
Unfortunately, as always, there were some very bad takes involving the incident.
@ovando678 nice kick lad. Dude had it coming. Likes to run his mouth like a little bitch. Now he’ll think twice.
— Registability (@registability) May 8, 2016
@JebBrovsky @karlouimette @Streamable
— Josh (@Josh_BKNY) May 8, 2016
i dont see anything wrong with hitting someone wearing rb kit.. its fair play pic.twitter.com/jfGTJ88fef
Lol Ouimette le feluette s'est blessé. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. #IMFC #RBNY
— Vincent Caron (@resurgens69) May 8, 2016
Don't be those guys. Instead, be like these guys.
Ppl actually thinking it's funny that ouimette got kicked in the back and STRETCHERED off the field is why I hate sports and fans
— NYCFCBlues (@NYCFCBlues) May 8, 2016
Well, if you're going to cleat a guy in the back, don't cleat a guy in the back.
— W. Knutt Megg Esq. (@MLSmuppet) May 8, 2016
At the same time, many have called for a greater punishment, possibly even jail time for Parkes. An overreaction? Maybe, but for some the only remedy to such a severe incident is the institutions set up to handle such severe incidents.
I'm no law-talkin'-guy, but that kick on Ouimette should draw some attention from the non-soccer authorities too, no?
— Red Scott (@AllonthePitch) May 8, 2016
Still thinking about this. That's straight up assault. Ouimette should press charges.
— Mike Manganello (@MikeManganello) May 8, 2016
In a incident like that I actually might be pro an assault charge against Parkes
— David Rowaan (@David_Rowaan) May 8, 2016