Police called to Florida youth soccer game amid dispute over 3-year-old player
A league official cited alleged disruption by parents, while Nevada’s family says he was targeted for being too good at soccer.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The viral video of police at a Florida youth soccer game has triggered outrage, but the answer to why police called youth soccer game is disputed. Nevada’s family says officers were brought in because the 3-year-old was outperforming other children; a league official told police the issue was alleged disruption by the parents.
CBS News reported that Nevada was playing in a youth program near Orlando when officers arrived. In video recorded by the family, his father says police were called because his son was “too good.”
Body-camera footage described by CBS News and The Independent shows league director Thomas Hayes praising Nevada’s ability while giving officers a different account of the call. Hayes said Nevada was advanced for the group and scored frequently, but alleged the child had pushed other players during games.
Hayes also alleged that Nevada’s parents had objected when players, including Nevada, were substituted so other children could take part. He told officers there had been arguments with other parents after he asked referees not to let Nevada push other children, according to CBS News.
Why did the league official say police were called?
According to The Independent’s account of the Winter Park Police incident report, a league official asked officers to speak with the family because he did not want a disturbance to continue. The report said the family told officers the game was over and they were leaving.
The available accounts do not independently settle the competing claims about what happened between the adults, or establish that Nevada was removed solely because of his soccer ability.
Nevada’s mother disputed Hayes’s account in body-camera footage, saying the family stood on the opposite side of the field from other parents to avoid disrupting the game. She said she believed the league was pushing her son out because he was good at soccer.
She also told CBS News that the coach had allowed Nevada to remain in the most recent game if he passed the ball, but police became involved about halfway through. Hayes said he wanted the family to leave and was willing to issue a refund, CBS News reported.
No arrests were made. The family was cooperative with officers, according to the police report described by The Independent.
i9 Sports said on Facebook that it was aware of concerns about an incident at a local program and was taking them seriously. The organization said it was working to understand the circumstances and would not speculate or share unverified information.
Online reaction has largely backed Nevada and his family, CBS News reported, though that reaction does not establish why the league official requested police assistance.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.