Madison Square Garden Bans Lawyer Representing New York Cop Injured at a Boxing Match

Madison Square Garden Entertainment has banned attorney John Scola from entering any of its venues after he agreed to represent a police officer suing the company. The officer claims he was injured while working security at an MSG property in 2025.

This isn't a new tactic for MSG. The company has been using facial recognition technology to identify and block lawyers involved in litigation against them since at least 2022. When banned attorneys try to enter for concerts, games, or other events, they're turned away at the door.

The practice has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups and legal experts who argue it's an abuse of facial recognition technology. MSG defends it as a way to protect its legal interests, claiming it has the right to exclude anyone from its private properties.

For anyone building or using AI systems, this is a reminder that facial recognition deployment comes with real ethical questions. The technology works exactly as designed here, but that doesn't mean the application is defensible. MSG's approach shows how surveillance tools can be weaponized in ways that feel dystopian, even when technically legal.

The ban affects all MSG properties, including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theatre. Scola can't attend events at any of these venues until his client's case is resolved, which could take years.