Florida police called to youth soccer game after alleged dispute involving 3-year-old player
It was supposed to be a fun weekend soccer game for children. Instead, an alleged dispute involving a 3-year-old player ended with police being called to a Florida park, footage of which has since gone viral online and sparked outrage.
The Winter Park Police Department said in a statement that officers responded to a call from a soccer league official alleging a disturbance involving the child’s parents.
Nevada Pierre’s parents insist the 3-year-old was “scorned” for playing too well at a game Saturday, according to the police report. But the game’s sports league director argued the child was removed “due to behavior” and said his “unruly parents” were “upset with their son’s playing time,” the police report said.
Officers determined the “incident was a civil matter between those parties and not criminal. No one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park,” police added in a statement.
“The league requested the family leave and offered to refund the league cost to the family,” police said Monday. “The family stated the game was over and they were leaving.”
“The family was cooperative with the officers,” police added.
The dispute, however, has long since left the soccer field, and video footage of young Pierre weaving between players and scoring goals has gone viral online, along with the call to police as the incident has gained steam.
High-profile children’s educator and entertainer Ms. Rachel labeled the incident “sick.”
“The police were called on a 3-year-old Black boy because he’s too good at soccer. He was kicked out of the league. The cops showed up at the game,” Ms. Rachel wrote online. “I’m LIVID!”
She then invited Pierre onto her popular children’sshow to “share his amazing skills.”
“I need my sports people to show up!!! This is racist, sick, traumatizing and disgusting,” Ms. Rachel said.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump also posted on X decrying the incident.
“A 3-year-old was allegedly removed from a youth soccer league because he was too good,” Crump wrote. “If this child was punished for excelling, what message does that send to every young athlete?!”
Former professional football quarterback Robert Griffin III also expressed his outrage. “Calling the cops on a 3-year-old is crazy,” he said, labeling Pierre a “soccer phenom.” He added, “Punishing a 3-year-old child for being too good at a sport is ridiculous.”
i9 Sports, the organization behind the youth soccer program, said in a statement to NBC News that it is reviewing the incident.
“We are aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program, and we take them very seriously,” the group said, adding that it “reached out to the family and have begun a review that includes speaking with those involved.”
“The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us,” the program added.
In the 911 dispatch call obtained by NBC News, the local league official is heard saying, “I just have an unruly parent here,” referring to Pierre’s mother as “just really really disruptive.” He then accused her of “following me around and calling me names and in front of this whole bunch of people.”
In an interview with ABC News, Pierre’s mother, Martasia Griffin, said that she merely “spoke up” for her son and that the family was left feeling “embarrassed” after police were called to the game.
In videos shared on Pierre’s official Instagram page, his parents show snippets of him playing and say the toddler scored 10 goals at the weekend game, despite being taken off early.
“The league kicked Nevada out because every week no one could take the ball from him some of the parents for the other team didn’t feel that it was fair, mind you he is a 3 year old playing with 5 years old,” a statement alongside a video on his page said.