Police were called to a youth soccer game in Winter Park, Florida, and the family of a 3-year-old soccer player was escorted out of the park – a continuing sign of how kids games, even between young children, can consume adults.
The event went viral Monday, Oct. 26, when Instagram and TikTok accounts for the 3-year-old boy, identified as “Nevada,” posted video of him dominating older kids with a background voice saying the police were called because he wasn’t sharing the ball.
“We are aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program, and we take them very seriously,” i9 Sports, the organization that runs the program, said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. “The 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.
Here’s what we know:
Why were police called to the i9 soccer event in Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park Police released audio of a 911 call on Monday, Oct. 26, from an individual self-identified as the director on site. His name is omitted in the call.
The voice says the call isn’t really an emergency but asks for immediate help to remove an unruly and disruptive parent from a sporting event.
Body camera of the incident also released by Winter Park Police shows two officers arrive at a park and approach a man. He says he has a kid who is very advanced and scores a lot of goals but is pushing other kids.
The man, an on-site organizer, says he’s been swapping the kid out to give the others a chance, and the boy continued to push. When he said something to the referees, he said the boys’ parents created a scene and were arguing with other parents.
He says the player's mom and dad are at the center of the issues and he wants them out and offers to give them a refund. The officers tell him they will ask them to leave.
The on-site organizer said he walked away because the mother was streaming the scene online.
What did the 3-year-old i9 soccer players' parents say about the incident?
Nevada’s parents have been identified in news reports as Martasia Griffin and Don Pierre. When police approached a woman wearing a pink sweatshirt at the scene, she identifies herself as the boy’s mother.
The conversation is civil, as was the officers’ with the organizer.
“I guess one of the coaches advised that they don't want you guys here anymore,” says an officer, who later identifies himself as Officer Cuddy. A LinkedIn page identifies a Michael Cuddy as a police officer at Winter Park Police Department.
“If you guys don't mind leaving, it would be very much appreciated,” he says.
The woman agrees and asks if the organizer would be willing to give her their money back. She also asks why they called the police.
“I guess he's just calling because I guess he believes that you guys were causing a disturbance that was interfering with the game play over here,” officer Cuddy says.
The woman says she is baffled because she feels her son is getting kicked out for playing soccer well.
“He specifically mentioned that your son is very good, but he doesn't like how the parents become aggressive when they try to do different coaching,” says another officer, with a name plate that says D. Millard. On a Facebook page, Dalton Millard identifies as a police officer with Winter Park.
The woman and a man standing next to her tell the officers her son tries to pass the ball but the other kids don’t receive it well.
The woman also says the other parents were standing in a circle talking about her son while she doesn’t stand near them. She says she doesn’t interfere or argue with other parents and they are “mad at my son because he actually plays soccer.”
She also says she her son sat out three or four times.
“I will tell you, it may be worth looking into a more advanced league for him with some better competition,” Officer Cuddy says.
Nevada’s Instagram handle also posted video of him with words saying he was taken out every time he scored and “last season they were sending the kids to hit him.”
The group walks out together and the officers say the organizer will facilitate a refund.
Why did the i9 Sports Winter Park soccer incident go viral?
The incident sparked wide interest when clips of Nevada were posted dribbling around other players and repeatedly scoring goals. The boy’s handle also posted video of police officers talking to a woman, apparently the same conversation as documented in the body cam video.
“I wanna see him play,” officer Millard says in the body cam video. “I bet he’s good.”
Former professional soccer player Eddie Johnson commented on Nevada’s Instagram page that he would invite him to his Orlando-based youth soccer training program soon.
“Instead of embracing his gift they wanna diminish it,” Johnson commented on Instagram. “Normally I don’t take 3 year olds nor would I let the system take this kids ability away.”
What did the Winter Park police say?
The officers told the woman this isn’t a criminal matter.
“The Winter Park Police Department was contacted by a soccer league official who requested response to a disturbance between league officials and the parents of a player,” it said in a statement. “The league requested the family leave and offered to refund the league cost to family. Shortly after arrival, the officers were requested by the league official to communicate with the family as he did not want to further a disturbance. The family stated the game was over and they were leaving. The family was cooperative with the officers and were provided with an event number for the incident at their request. … No one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park.”
Toward the end of the video, someone asks Officer Cuddy if he’s had a rough day.
“If this is the worst call I have all day, then it's been a great day,” he says.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why were police called to a youth soccer game in Florida? What we know
