Police Called to Youth Soccer Game After Dispute Over 3-Year-Old Player
A police response to a youth soccer match in the Orlando area sparked controversy after league officials and the child's parents gave conflicting accounts of the incident.
Police were summoned to a youth soccer game near Orlando, Florida, after league director Thomas Hayes reported disruptive behavior by parents of a three-year-old player named Nevada. Hayes told officers that Nevada was "very good" and "really advanced compared to the other ones," but also said the child was pushing other players and that his parents had previously objected when he instructed referees to limit Nevada's physical play.
Hayes said he asked the family to leave and offered a refund, while Nevada's mother claimed the police were called because her son was "too good" at soccer. She told officers that the family tries to stay on the opposite side of the field to avoid disruption and accused the league of trying to remove her son from the game.
The incident, captured on body-camera footage and family video, has generated mixed reactions online. Some users expressed support for the child and his family, while others criticized the parents' conduct. The league, i9 Sports, posted on social media that it was aware of the concerns and was taking them seriously.