What's going on with the Toronto FC and New York City FC 'incident'?

Toronto FC head coach John Herdman has been given a 1-game suspension alongside a number of other suspensions for a few players after tempers flared in an on-field brawl between his side and New York City FC over the weekend.

Following the 3-2 loss to NYCFC which saw Federico Bernardeschi given a red card in the 90th+9th minute of play, Herdman told reporters that tensions were high between the two sides because of an alleged incident earlier this season.

"There were things that had happened in the previous game at the tunnel that I think have just spilled over into this game," Herdman remarked. "I mean, you don't want to see those scenes in football but it's a passionate group and there was definitely some bad blood that spilled over from that first game [at Yankee Stadium] that involved the (NYCFC) head coach (Nick Cushing)."

Herdman then added: "[A] 19-year-old [Toronto FC player] reported being punched by the coach in that stadium."

He continued, when asked by a reporter for a follow-up: "That was the off-record report that came into the dressing room at half-time, from a young 19-year-old that said he got cornered and punched in the face."

When asked if any action had been taken, Herdman offered: "No. The cameras weren't working in certain areas of the stadium."

NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing was asked about the allegations, and offered: "I categorically deny any involvement or any incident where I have punched or assaulted any Toronto FC player or staff."

He added: "I am shocked, personally, by the allegation.

"We, as a club, have proactively asked MLS to investigate the incident on Saturday evening. And I will leave it with MLS and our legal team to carry out the investigation."

Herdman then responded: "The honest information that was relayed back from the team and the young player was that there'd been that altercation. As a coach, I've got to believe my players and support and back my players."

As a result of this back-and-forth, a number of Toronto FC players are now unavailable, as the MLS Disciplinary Committee handed out suspensions to Richie Laryea (3 matches), Prince Owusu (2 matches), and Sean Johnson (1 match), alongside NYCFC's Strahinja Tanasijevic (1 match). This, the result of the on-field kerfuffle that also so Bernardeschi pick up a red card.

Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio said, of the incident: "I think there was a lot of animosity from the last game from what happened at half-time. Their coach starts to talk and say things to certain players that I think is maybe crossing the line a little bit.

"But then when we hear that they corner – the coach and three of the [NYCFC] players corner a 19-year-old of ours by himself, that's when there is a problem. I think that kind of carried over to this game – probably from their side as well – from everything that happened over there in New York.

"So we're just letting them know we didn't forget about that ... and then I think one of their players crossed the line [today] and headbutted Sean Johnson."

When asked which player that was, Osorio responded: "To be honest, I don't remember the number, but I saw him. He headbutted Sean, and Sean, as any person, you're going to react, and that's how it starts. So I understand maybe we were, you know... our emotions got the best of us a little bit and we were talking, but we weren't being physical or nothing.

"This is the second time they've gotten physical now with our players. That's how it starts and that's how it gets out of control. That's basically all where it stems from."