
Police called to Florida soccer game after parents say three-year-old benched for being too good
Organizer says parents were causing disturbance
No one arrested or made to leave game in Florida
Police were called after a dispute involving the parents of a three-year-old player at a soccer game in Florida over the weekend.
The boyâÂÂs parents can be heard on police body cameras saying their son, Nevada, had been kicked out because he was too good at soccer and was embarrassing the other children. However, an organizer at the game said Nevada had pushed other children and his parents had become argumentative when their son was taken out the game.
In police body camera footage the organizer of the event, who works for i9 Sports, a youth sports group, can be heard saying NevadaâÂÂs parents had caused a disturbance.
âÂÂThe kid is good. HeâÂÂs great. Really good,â the organizer says in the footage. âÂÂHeâÂÂs very advanced compared to the other ones, so heâÂÂs scoring a lot of goals. But heâÂÂs pushing the kids ... So, I try to tell him, donâÂÂt push; we want to play without pushing, right?âÂÂ
NevadaâÂÂs parents posted a clip of their son at the event in which he can be seen dribbling around older children with ease. The video has since gone viral. Nevada cannot be seen pushing any other children in the footage posted by his parents.
âÂÂTheyâÂÂre mad at my son because he actually plays soccer. TheyâÂÂre literally kicking him out of this place because heâÂÂs good at soccer,â his mother says in the body camera footage. âÂÂFirst, they said heâÂÂs not passing, but nobodyâÂÂs catching the ball when heâÂÂs passing.âÂÂ
The i9 Sports worker told police they were willing to give NevadaâÂÂs parents a refund if they left.
âÂÂI just want him out. Immediately,â the organizer told police. âÂÂJust give me their names so I can give them their refund.âÂÂ
The Winter Park Police Department said the family agreed to leave the event and no one was arrested.
âÂÂThe family stated the game was over and they were leaving. The family was cooperative with the officers,â the department wrote in a statement on its website. âÂÂNo one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park.âÂÂ
i9 Sports said it was reviewing the incident and had contacted NevadaâÂÂs family.
âÂÂWe are aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program, and we take them very seriously,â i9 Sports said in a statement. âÂÂThe respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us. We have reached out to the family and have begun a review that includes speaking with those involved. While we work to understand the circumstances, we will not speculate or share unverified information. We appreciate everyone who has brought their concerns to our attention.âÂÂ
One officer appeared to want to see more of Nevada though. âÂÂI kind of want to see him play. I bet heâÂÂs good,â he can be heard saying to another officer on body camera.
