Police Respond to Dispute Between i9 Sports Officials and Parents at Winter Park Soccer Game

Winter Park Police responded to a disturbance at a local i9 Sports soccer game after league officials requested that a family be asked to leave the field. According to police reports, the officials said a 3-year-old player was pushing other children and that the parents reacted angrily, creating a heated argument.

Officers arrived and met with the league representative, who expressed a desire for the family to leave immediately. Police noted that, because the games were held in a public park, the family could not be forced to depart, but officers facilitated communication to de-escalate the situation.

The family indicated they were confused about why their child was being removed and said they intended to leave after the game ended. They also requested a refund and mentioned the possibility of legal action if the matter was not resolved.

Winter Park Police classified the incident as a civil dispute rather than a criminal matter, and no arrests or trespass warnings were issued. The i9 Sports program released a statement saying it is reviewing the incident, has contacted the family, and will not speculate on unverified details.

"We are aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program, and we take them very seriously. The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us," the organization said.

Body-camera footage released by the department shows the league official describing the child as "very advanced" compared with other players and stating that the parents became irritated, leading to a "big scene." The footage also captured the mother explaining that she was live-streaming the interaction, which contributed to the official stepping away from the family.