The mad ruckus on June 2, 2025 was sparked by a “political issue in Slovakia”

A row over a mayoral election in a Slovakian village sparked a brawl which saw around 200 people - many armed - swarming the streets of Sheffield’s Page Hall.

On the day of the chaotic scenes “scared” residents heard “cars screeching” and witnessed combatants wielding “sticks, machetes and bats” and one man was seen running along the street swinging a “garden hoe”.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how on June 2 last year a fight broke out between two groups of men “of Slovakian descent” at Golden Gainz Gym in Page Hall.

Around 30 males were seen trading blows, sustaining face and head injuries, with some using weapons such as weights poles and two males were seen going head-to-head inside the ropes of the gym’s boxing ring.

During violence which spilled into the surrounding streets near the gym around 200 people gathered - many wielding weapons - however the “majority” were never identified.

Seven men appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today (June 10) to be sentenced for the crazy events. Judge Megan Rhys told them the day was an “appalling incident of violent disorder”.

A police officer said in a statement read out to the court the scenes were an example of how “feuds” were “resolved” in Page Hall - until “elders meet up and decide the fighting is over”.

Ella Fornsworth, prosecuting, described how the mad ruckus on June 2, 2025 was sparked by a “political issue in Slovakia”.

She said: “On Saturday May 31, 2025 several large scale incidents of public disorder broke out within the Page Hall area of Sheffield.

“The understanding of the police is this was related to a political issue between two families, each supporting different candidates to become mayor of a village in that country.

“On May 31 a fight broke out around 11.30pm which resulted in the arrests of four males. Fighting continued within the area on and off over the weekend.”

Speaking about the finale at Golden Gainz on June 2, Ms Fornsworth described how one lot of the rucking males were inside using the equipment when the other group entered to attack at around 12.30pm.

She said: “Some items were picked up inside the gym with evident intent to threaten, blows were struck or attempted.”

Police officers who arrived at the scene described seeing a man with “swelling” and “injuries to his face” as a second “large” gathering of up to “200” people amassed in the streets outside, many of them armed.

One of those arrested and charged for the violence was Maximilian Holub, 21. He was already in the gym and was assaulted by two men before leaving. He was then seen outside on the street “running” with a “garden hoe”.

Joseph Mizigar, 24, was seen climbing into the gym’s boxing ring while striking another man also in the ring who was “cowering” from him.

The court heard Mizigar appeared to be “loitering” and “spoiling for a fight” and was part of the arriving group.

Ales Pokuta, 29, claimed to be inside the gym when the havoc started however he was later seen outside with a knife and an axe.

Roman Mizigar, 58, was part of the attacking group and was seen trying to strike a male before falling over, picking up a bat and leaving with it to join the madness outside.

A police officer who was involved in the awful incident described how the community there “regularly” used TikTok and Facebook Live to alert others of an issue, which then “escalates” into “violence”.

On June 2.2025, said the officer, “approximately 50” people were fighting on three different streets in Page Hall. Officers were pulled in from across South Yorkshire to deal with it.

She added that children at schools in the area had been “mirroring” the “learned violent behaviour” since. Judge Rhys told the defendants: “This was a an appalling incident with violent disorder on a large scale.

“Innocent people within the area would been scared by the violence and the sheer level that this developed. This sort of behaviour is not the way to resolve a feud and it will not be tolerated.”

None of the defendants had any previous criminal convictions.

Jarosav Horvath, aged 25, of Herries Road, Fir Vale, Ratislav Mizigar, aged 40, of Idsworth Road, Fir Vale, Ladislav Mizigar, 58, of Idsworth Road, Fir Vale, Roman Mizigar, 58, of Hartington Road, Rotherham and Joseph Mizigar, 24, of Ellerton Road, Fir Vale, all admitted affray

Maximilian Holub, 21, of Wade Street, Grimesthorpe, admitted having an offensive weapon and failing to surrender.

Ales Pokuta, 29, of Popple Street, Grimesthorpe, admitted having a bladed article and an offensive weapon.

Horvath was jailed for nine months suspended for 18 months with 20 rehabilitation activity days, Joseph Mizigar was handed an 18-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days.

Roman Mizigar and Ratislav Mizigar were both given 18-month community orders with 15 rehabilitation activity days. Maximilian Holub was handed a 12-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work.

Ales Pokuta was handed nine months’ jail suspended for 18 months with 20 rehabilitation activity days and150 hours of unpaid work. Ladislav Mizigar will be sentenced at a later date.