Florida Family Told to Leave After 3-Year-old Shines at Soccer
WHO:
WESH - Police said the family was cooperative and requested an event number, which officers provided.
Fox News - The police report identified the league official who called police as Jul Henry, the league director.
Fox News - League official Thomas Hayes told a dispatcher that a parent was “really, really disruptive,” followed him around, and called him names in front of others.
TMZ - Nevada is a 3-year-old child who played in a youth soccer game in Winter Park, Florida.
WKMG - Nevada played on an i9 Sports soccer team.
WKMG - The i9 Sports Maitland/Winter Park league said it had contacted the family and begun reviewing the incident.
WKMG - The Winter Park Police Department released a statement about the incident; the article does not provide its contents.
WHAT:
WESH - Police said no one was arrested, forced to leave the park, or issued a trespass warning.
WESH - Body-camera footage showed a league official telling officers the child was “very advanced compared to the other ones,” but alleging that he pushed other players.
WESH - The league official said the child’s parents caused a “big scene, arguing with the other parents,” and said, “I just want them out, immediately.”
WESH - The official said the mother was livestreaming their interactions, which was why he walked away.
WESH - The mother told officers the family was confused about why the child was being removed from games and why they were being asked to leave the park; she said they wanted to arrange a refund or take the league to court.
Fox News - Henry told police that other parents were upset about Nevada’s playing time.
Fox News - The report said the family would receive a refund after being told their son could no longer participate in the league.
Fox News - Fox News said its attempts to reach company executives and the Winter Park office were unsuccessful; the league’s mailbox was full.
Fox News - A police report said an i9 Sports official called police seeking help with a “disturbance between league officials and the parents of a player.”
Fox News - Hayes told the dispatcher, “I want to be done,” and asked, “Can you have someone quickly get here?”
Fox News - Police said the league asked the family to leave and offered to refund the league cost; the family told officers the game was over and they were leaving.
Fox News - The report said Hayes told the family their son would no longer be allowed in the league because of their behavior during the disturbance.
Fox News - Police characterized the matter as civil and said it was out of their hands.
Fox News - The family said their son scored 21 goals in two games; Fox News reported the family made the claim in an October 10 post.
TMZ - Police were called to a youth soccer game after Nevada scored goal after goal and ran past other children.
WKMG - A viral video shows Nevada scoring goals against other children on his team.
WKMG - The Instagram account that posted the video claimed police were called because Nevada was playing too well and that Nevada and his family were asked to leave the field.
WKMG - The league said: “We are aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program, and we take them very seriously.”
WKMG - The league said: “The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us.”
WKMG - The league said it was reviewing the circumstances by speaking with those involved and would not “speculate or share unverified information.”
WKMG - The league thanked people who had brought concerns to its attention.
WKMG - The video had more than 4 million views.
WHERE:
TMZ - The soccer game took place in Winter Park, Florida.
WKMG - The game was at fields in Winter Park, Florida.
WHY:
Fox News - The report attributed the dispute to other parents’ objections to Nevada’s playing time.
TMZ - The article says police were called because the 3-year-old was outplaying the other children.
WKMG - The Instagram account attributed the police call and request that the family leave to Nevada playing too well; the league said it was still reviewing the circumstances.
HOW:
WESH - Officers said the family could not be forced to leave because the games were being played in a public park.
Fox News - Audio of Hayes speaking to a dispatcher was obtained by the New York Post.
WKMG - The video was posted on Instagram, and the league’s review included speaking with people involved.
Police were called to a youth soccer game in Winter Park, Florida, after a dispute over 3-year-old Nevada’s participation; an official said the child pushed other players and that his parents caused a disturbance, while the family said they were confused about why he was being removed. Officers treated the matter as civil, said the family could not be forced to leave the public park, and reported that no one was arrested or given a trespass warning. The league told the family Nevada could no longer participate and offered a refund, and it said it was reviewing the incident after a video of the child scoring goals drew millions of views.