EXCLUSIVE
Fearing that booze-fueled brawls may break out, Madison Square Garden is limiting the sale of beer at the charity hockey match between cops and firefighters on Saturday night.
The Garden is restricting sales of suds to only the first period of the game because of concerns of a repeat of the rowdiness that marred the Oct. 20 star-studded concert for World Trade Center victims, sources said.
Uniformed cops and firefighters will also be on hand to prevent trouble from breaking out, the sources said.
The theory is that if a security guard approaches a rowdy cop or firefighter, a confrontation could develop – but that a fellow cop or firefighter could be more effective at getting a colleague to calm down.
The NYPD and the Garden are also may videotape the event.
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said he’s confident there won’t be any problems.
“Our firefighters and police officers are very proud, very competitive individuals,” he said.
“However, we’re confident that the competitive spirit will not overcome their sense of good sportsmanship and goodwill toward each other.”
Garden spokeswoman Mary Clarke declined to comment.
The annual hockey game between the Finest and the Bravest – with proceeds going to the families of fallen cops and firefighters – is normally played at the Nassau Coliseum.
But this year, both teams will face off in the Garden at 8 p.m.
As a result, Garden officials sat down with the NYPD and FDNY to map out security plans.
They were concerned about a repeat of the rowdiness that erupted at the October benefit concert, at which security guards tussled with less-than-sober firefighters.