Police pepper spray and beat fans for performing haka

Police in the US state of Utah will not face punishment for using pepper spray and batons on a group of Polynesian spectators performing the haka at a high school American football game.

Uintah County Attorney Mark Thomas said it was a misunderstanding due to cultural differences and no criminal charges were warranted.

Officers used pepper spray on about 12 Polynesian men and boys who formed the haka after their team lost a football game in Roosevelt, east of Salt Lake City.