Marcell Young’s hit on B.C. Lions fan sparks online debate

B.C. Lions defensive back Marcell Young’s devastating hit on an unsuspecting fan who ran onto the field during Saturday night’s game at B.C. Place has sparked an online debate about the player’s actions.

Some saw the hit as justified while others criticized the player for taking advantage of the situation and potentially injuring the fan. Young’s Twitter feed featured several people taking him to task for the hit.

@BCLions @M_Young23 This hit is INEXCUSABLE! If the CFL banned full-contact PADDED practices for PLAYERS (@ players' urging) for SAFETY, HOW is this HIT in ANY WAY ACCEPTABLE??? Perhaps Young should be charged with assault, let's hope there's NO delayed or long term injuries!

— Liz 🏞 ➡️ 🌊 🇵🇸 will be 🆓️ (@RemembersAlways) June 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/GoingUpRiver/status/1008537908364566528

https://twitter.com/WIYILAND1/status/1008386762799046656

The only person injured was the idiot running across the field. Did you see a knife? If kids see this then they think it’s okay to take matters into their own hands. It’s stupid by both parties involved @M_Young23 was fully geared and the runner had no pants.

— OilerPunch (@OilerPunch) June 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/RobFaiNation/status/1008242996523888642

That said, much of the prevailing wisdom seemed to support Young’s actions, given that the interloper wasn’t supposed to be there.

Look, anyone stupid enough to run around on the field at a professional football game is a) An idiot and b) Deserves to get lit up. Who knows what kind of nutbar this guy is? Have you seen the world we live in today? Good on Marcel Young for putting an end to it. #BCLions #CFL

— BCLionsDen 🇨🇦 🍁 (@BCLionsDen) June 17, 2018

@M_Young23 absolutely awesome hit!!! @M_Young23 knocked that idiot sober!!! No fans should ever unlawfully enter the field of play; so happy you ended his night!!! #gotosleep. @CFL_News @CFL_Headlines @CFL @FarhanLaljiTSN

— CFL South (@CFL_South) June 17, 2018

People actually think @M_Young23 should be charged with assault?!! That punk deserved what he got. Btw, kids pay close attention how Young doesn't target the head. pic.twitter.com/KTgDZaSdeb

— Gordon Bombay (@GordonBombay__) June 17, 2018

And that was the day i became a @M_Young23 fan😆😆😆 #cfl #BCLions https://t.co/DyK2SIih2Z

— Andrea Nicole Van D🦋 (@drethestallion) June 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/Gordie_Orwell/status/1008698161286635520

How Darwin is supposed to work, wimps.

— Gavin Doyle 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇹🇼🇮🇱 (@DoyleG80) June 18, 2018