Dequay Canton will never coach another youth football game in the Steel City Youth Football League. He was banned for life after an on-field brawl revealed his history of concerning treatment toward players.
The 24-year-old also lied.
Canton claimed that he only engaged in violence because the officials and opposing youth football coaches would not hear his concerns about the use of racial slurs. A league investigation did not find any evidence of his claims.
Dequay Canton was involved with a youth football brawl in Pittsburgh.
The incident in question took place on Aug. 31. A youth football game between Keystone Oaks and the Carlynton Little Cougars D2 team quickly devolved into chaos when Carlynton head coach Dequay Canton lost his temper. What started out as a heated altercation between the two head coaches escalated into a full-blown brawl. Multiple people had to step in to break it up.
The Steel City Youth Football League said both coaches were ejected from the game, which involved 8- and 9-year-olds. They were also placed on indefinite leave while league officials conducted an official investigation.
Three different coaches were charged with disorderly conduct. That includes two coaches from Keystone Oaks. Canton, the third coach, was also charged with harassment. They were all placed on leave during an investigation.
As the investigation was ongoing, Canton released a lengthy statement. He accused the opposing players (in 3rd and/or 4th grade) of using racial slurs toward his team and accused the officials of ignoring his concerns. Meanwhile, multiple videos were released from the head coach’s past — and from earlier in the same game. They showed a concerning history of poor treatment of players.
The head coach is banned for life after an investigation into false claims of racism.
The Steel City Youth Football League wrapped its investigation over the weekend. It did not find any evidence of racial slurs being used. Dequay Canton’s claims were determined to be false. Never happened.
As a result of the investigation, Canton has been banned for life from coaching, participating and attending any league events. Two other coaches have been banned for the remainder of the 2026 season. One is banned from attending all events for four weeks. The other is banned for five weeks.
Both Carlynton and Keystone Oaks are placed on probation for the remainder of the season. The league will also beef up its security at league events moving forward and will work with referees to foster a safe and positive environment.
“The [Steel City Youth Football League] stands with its officiating crews and continues to maintain their zero-tolerance policy for racism, discrimination, harassment, or unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind. Youth sports must serve as an inclusive, fair, and welcoming space where every child – regardless of race, background, or identity – can participate free from hate or hostility.”
That puts an end to this saga. The Pittsburgh youth football brawl has been resolved.