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Police Called to Youth Soccer Game Over 3-Year-Old's Skill
· Confirmed
In Short: A 3-year-old boy's soccer skills led to a dispute that escalated to police involvement at a youth soccer game in Florida.
At a youth soccer game in Winter Park, Florida, a dispute erupted over a 3-year-old boy named Nevada's exceptional soccer skills. The incident, which involved Nevada playing against 5-year-olds, escalated to the point where a league official called the police.
According to ABC7 Bay Area, Nevada's parents described him as a soccer phenom who has been competing against children older than him. However, other parents complained to league officials that Nevada was too skilled and did not pass the ball enough.
The league director, Thomas Hayes, told 911 that a parent was being disruptive, calling him names and posting about the incident on Instagram. In a recording of the 911 call, Hayes can be heard saying, 'There is a parent here that’s really, really disruptive.'
The police responded and escorted Nevada's family away from the field. The family said they were asked to leave and offered a refund for their son's soccer team fees.
In a statement, i9 Sports acknowledged the incident and said they are investigating the circumstances. 'The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us,' the organization said.
Former pro soccer player Eddie Johnson criticized the incident, calling it unacceptable in youth sports. 'Punishing a 3-year-old child for being too good at a sport is RIDICULOUS,' Johnson said.
The incident has sparked debate on social media, with many users expressing concern over the treatment of Nevada. 'Breaks my heart this little boy is terrified because he thinks he did something wrong,' one user wrote.
The Winter Park Police Department issued a statement saying it was a league official who had called them, reporting a disturbance between league officials and the parents of a player.
Despite the controversy, the family of Nevada has gained support on social media, with many praising the boy's skills and condemning the league's actions.
What this adds
The incident has drawn significant attention from various media outlets, each providing different perspectives on the event, but all agree that a 3-year-old boy's soccer skills led to a dispute that escalated to police involvement.
What's confirmed
- “They called the police on a three-year-old because he’s too good,” Nevada’s father said.
- “The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us,” the organization said.
- " This is racist, sick, traumatizing and disgusting," she said.
- He describes her as a Black woman wearing pink. Eastern Shore parent handed ban for harassing young minor hockey referee Parent charged for threatening player during youth soccer game in Vaughan, police say The incident report says the official told police the parents were upset about their son's playing time, while the parents said their child "was being scorned for playing too well and was being taken out of [the] game."
- According to a Monday, October 26, statement from the Winter Park Police Department, a soccer league official requested a police response to an alleged disturbance involving league officials and Nevada’s parents.
What's still developing
- Apparently, some parents aren’t particularly thrilled about that.
- “Like following me around, calling me names in front of the whole bunch of people that are here. I want to be done,” he said in the audio the New York Post obtained from the Winter Park Police Department.
- In a statement posted to Facebook, i9 Sports said it is “aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program” and is currently investigating the circumstances.
- Hayes alleged that Nevada’s parents created a “big scene” and argued with other families after being asked to address their son’s aggressive style of play.
- “The cops said ‘they’ll be giving you a refund’.. meaning they called the police to kick that little boy all the way out of the league,” X user @SneakerPeach replied to a tweet containing the viral video.