Recent footage has surfaced showing a heated altercation involving the father of Southside Melbourne Flyers player Maddy Rocci during the team’s WNBL semi-final match against Townsville Fire. The incident took place on Sunday as tensions ran high in the stands.

The confrontation occurred during a tightly contested game, which saw the Townsville Fire secure an 84-75 victory, earning them a spot in the WNBL Grand Final against Perth Lynx. The intensity of the match spilled over into the crowd, leading to the dramatic scenes captured on video.

The video, obtained by The Townsville Bulletin, reveals an argument breaking out between Mr. Rocci and another spectator. The footage shows Mr. Rocci initially walking away from his seat, only to turn back and engage with the other fan once more.

As Mr. Rocci descended the stairs towards the court, he paused again to confront the individual. The tension was palpable, with voices in the background advising, “It’s not worth it, mate,” as he climbed back up the stairs.

Marco Rocci (pictured), the father of WNBL player Maddy Rocci, was involved in a heated confrontation with a Townsville Fire spectator during the team’s clash against Southside Melbourne Flyers on Sunday

Marco had travelled up to Queensland from Melbourne to watch his daughter play in the WNBL semi-finals decider between the Fire and the Flyers

The situation escalated further when Mr. Rocci was seen yelling angrily at a steward from the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, illustrating the charged atmosphere during the game.

He appeared to yell furiously in the face of a Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre steward.

‘Marco stop,’ one shouted.

Mr Rocci then walked back down the steps, momentarily turning back to perform a crude gesture.

He was then escorted out of the arena by security.

The Herald Sun writes that Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit is investigating the matter.

‘On behalf of the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, we are disappointed in the behaviour of travelling fans at the last match,’ Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre management said in a statement.

‘We are providing support to our team members who responded to the situation and will manage the outcomes accordingly.’

But things turned ugly after Maddy claimed that a Townsville fan had been verbally abusing members of the Flyers team 

Daily Mail has approached both the Southside Melbourne Flyers and Townsville Fire for comment.

It came as his daughter, Maddy, was also involved in a tense courtside incident with a spectator.

In what was her 200th WNBL appearance, the 27-year-old guard appeared to become incensed by something in the crowd following the match.

Rocci rushed to the side of the court, stood on a chair and was seen exchanging some heated words with a spectator. Her team-mates were forced to pull her away.

She later claimed that a Townsville fan had been ‘targeting players’, including her team-mates Cayla George and Hayley Peters, during the WNBL semi-finals series.

Her father had flown up from Melbourne for the match and Rocci told The Herald Sun that she had walked over to the sidelines to try and call out to her father.

Rocci claimed that the heated confrontation between her father and a Townsville fan came about because the fan was allegedly shouting abuse at the players.

‘I was going over there because I saw my dad there, and obviously I couldn’t go and grab him because there was a barrier,’ Rocci said.

Rocci was also involved in a heated exchange with a spectator on the side of the basketball court

Fire claimed an 84-75 victory to win the semi-finals series 2-1 and claim a berth in the Grand Final 

‘I was like: “Dad, Dad.” Obviously, he couldn’t hear me because of what was happening.

She added that the Townsville fan had looked at her. She said: ‘All I did was say: “It’s always you”.’

A statement from the WNBL said: ‘The WNBL is aware of an incident that occurred at the conclusion of the Townsville Fire vs Southside Melbourne Flyers game on Sunday, 22 February involving two spectators.’

‘The WNBL Match Day manager immediately referred the matter to venue security and the spectators were subsequently asked to leave the venue.

‘The matter has been referred to Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit and remains under review.’