Police Called to Florida Youth Soccer Game After 3-Year-Old Removed; Parents and League Differ

Police in Winter Park, Florida, were called to a youth soccer game over the weekend after a dispute between league officials and the parents of Nevada, a 3-year-old player who was taken off the field. His parents, identified online as Martasia Griffin and Don Pierre, told officers on body camera that he was removed because he was too good. An organizer for youth sports group i9 Sports said the boy was far more advanced than the others and scored many goals, but pushed other children, and that his parents became argumentative. The worker offered a refund if the family left. In an incident report published October 26, the Winter Park Police Department said a league official requested a response to a disturbance, that the family was cooperative and that it was a civil matter. A video the parents posted, showing Nevada dribbling past older children, went viral; he is not seen pushing anyone in it. Children's creator Ms. Rachel posted that police were called on a Black 3-year-old and called it racist.

The right-leaning outlets, Fox News and Breitbart, lead with Ms. Rachel's reaction rather than the game. Their headlines say she is pushing a racism narrative or accusing the league of racism. Fox notes that the official who called police is Black, cites OutKick's report that police were not called because the boy was too good, and details her donations to liberal candidates. Breitbart ties her to unrelated political accusations. Both say bodycam footage shows the parents were disruptive and asked to leave. The Guardian, on the left, leads with the parents' claim and the footage. It quotes the organizer calling the boy great, notes that the posted video shows no pushing, and does not mention Ms. Rachel or race. Both sides include the organizer's pushing claim and the mother's account. Newsweek adds the police statement and the parents' names.