Police called to Florida youth soccer game; 3-year-old and family asked to leave league
Police were called to an i9 Sports 5U game near Orlando after a dispute between league officials and the parents of a 3-year-old player. The family says he was removed for being too good; league director Thomas Hayes says the parents were disruptive.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Police were called to an i9 Sports youth soccer game in the Orlando area of Florida on Saturday morning, 24 October, after a dispute between league officials and the parents of a 3-year-old player named Nevada. Fox NewsR “Cops were called to a Florida youth soccer field Saturday morning” Read at Fox News ↗ CBS NewsLC “Viral video of police being called to a youth soccer game near Orlando, Florida, is drawing outrage” Read at CBS News ↗ Right · 1According to Winter Park police, an i9 Sports official called asking for help with a "disturbance between league officials and the parents of a player"; league official Thomas Hayes told a dispatcher in audio obtained by the New York Post that a parent was being "really, really disruptive". Fox NewsR “an official from the i9 Sports league called cops Saturday morning looking for help settling a "disturbance between league officials and the parents of a player."”“tells a dispatcher that one of the parents was being "really, really disruptive."” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Police said the league asked the family to leave and offered to refund the league cost, that the family said the game was over and they were leaving, and that officers regard it as a civil matter. Fox NewsR “The league requested the family leave and offered to refund the league cost to family.”“Police say this is all out of their hands. They say this is now a civil matter.” Read at Fox News ↗
Left · 1On police body camera video, Hayes called the boy "very good" and "really advanced" but said he was pushing other children while scoring; he said he had told referees not to let the boy push and that the parents had caused "a big scene, arguing with other parents" and objected weeks earlier when Nevada was substituted out. CBS NewsLC “"He's scoring a lot of goals, but he's pushing the kids and scoring," Hayes was seen saying on police body camera video.”“claiming they created "a big scene, arguing with other parents."” Read at CBS News ↗ Left · 1Nevada's mother said on the same video that the family stands on the opposite side of the field from other parents to avoid disruption and that "They're literally kicking him out of this place because he's good at soccer"; the father is heard saying police were called on a 3-year-old "because he's too good". CBS NewsLC “"They're literally kicking him out of this place because he's good at soccer," she told the police.”“"They called the police on a 3-year-old because he's too good."” Read at CBS News ↗ Mixed · 2The mother told CBS News the coach had said Nevada could stay in his latest game if he passed the ball, but the police became involved about halfway through; Fox News reported that the family posted on 10 October that he had 21 goals in two games. CBS NewsLC “Nevada's mother told CBS News the coach told Nevada he could stay in his most recent game if he passed the ball” Read at CBS News ↗ Fox NewsR “In an October 10 post, the family claimed their son had 21 goals in two games.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Fox News reported, citing a police report obtained by the Post, that other parents were upset about the boy's playing time and that Hayes told the family their son could no longer be in the league because of their behavior. Fox NewsR “it was Hayes who revealed that other parents were upset over the 3-year-old's playing time.”“Hayes told the family that their son would no longer be allowed in the league based on their behavior” Read at Fox News ↗ Left · 1The video drew online support for the family, including a comment from YouTube creator Rachel Accurso (Ms. Rachel), while one coach wrote that the parents should be ashamed; i9 Sports said on Facebook it takes the concerns seriously, is working to understand the circumstances and will not share unverified information. CBS NewsLC “Online, there's been an avalanche of support for Nevada and his family, including from YouTube star Rachel Accurso”“We are working to understand the circumstances and will not speculate or share unverified information.” Read at CBS News ↗ Right · 1Fox News said it could not reach i9 executives or the Winter Park office and that it is unclear whether the league used the disturbance as cover for removing the boy. Fox NewsR “It's unclear because i9 has not provided clarification.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- CBS News presents a viral-video controversy with both sides' accounts from body camera footage, noting no one disputes the boy's talent.
- Emphasis
- Hayes's claim of pushing and disruptive parents alongside the mother's rebuttal, plus public reaction and i9's statement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cite the Winter Park police statement calling it a civil matter.
- Charged language
- “draws outrage”“avalanche of support”
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox News (OutKick) leads with the oddity of police being called over a 3-year-old 'prodigy', leaning toward the parents' account while noting the league has not clarified.
- Emphasis
- Police report and statement, the league's lack of response, and the boy's skill.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Hayes's claim about the boy pushing other children and the earlier incident.
- Charged language
- “prodigy”“The kid is too good.”“In a league full of beginners, he's Pelé.”
What every side reports
- Police were called to an i9 Sports youth game near Orlando, Florida, involving a 3-year-old player and his parents.
- The boy is a standout player and the league offered the family a refund.
- League official Thomas Hayes called police, saying a parent was disruptive.
- The parents say the boy was removed because he is too good.
Where accounts differ
-
Why the family was asked to leave
- Left
- CBS reports the league director says the parents were disruptive and the boy was pushing other children, while the family says he is being kicked out for being good.
- Right
- Fox reports the parents' claim and that other parents complained about the boy's dominance and playing time, but says it is unclear whether the disturbance was cover; it also cites Hayes' removal over behavior.
Left2 articles
-
Parents claim 3-year-old was kicked out of soccer league for being too good
Neutral Headline and lede present the parents' claim and the league director's counter that the call was about disruption.
-
Video of police being called to youth soccer game draws outrage
Neutral Balanced account of the viral video giving the league director's and the mother's versions.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Cops called to Florida youth soccer game to deal with parents of 3-year-old soccer prodigy
Mixed Light, opinionated take that sympathises with the family and questions the league's explanation.
- 26 Oct 19:05 First Fox NewsR Cops called to Florida youth soccer game to deal with parents of 3-year-old soccer prodigy
- 27 Oct 01:08 +6h 3m CBS NewsLC Parents claim 3-year-old was kicked out of soccer league for being too good
- 27 Oct 01:14 +6h 9m CBS NewsLC Video of police being called to youth soccer game draws outrage
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…