A youth soccer league official called in Winter Park police over a disturbance involving the parents of a 3-year-old player in a league for 5-year-old kids on Saturday.
The 911 call around 9:50 a.m. came from the multi-sport i9 Sports league director, Thomas Hayes, who told the operator “there is a parent here that’s really, really disruptive.”
“Like following me around, calling me names in front of the whole bunch of people that are here. I want to be done,” he said, per audio The Post obtained from the Winter Park Police Department.
Hayes informed the police he was at the front of Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the parent was a black woman in a pink outfit.
“Can you have someone quickly get here?” he added at the end of the call.
Upon two officers arriving on the scene at 10 a.m., Hayes told the officials that parents were upset about a 3-year-old boy’s playing time, per the event report.
The parents of the child were upset that he was being scorned for playing well and was being taken out of the game, the report added.
The parents were also notified that their child would no longer be allowed to play in the league due to their behavior and any refund would be a civil matter. Hayes stated a refund would be given at a later date.
Per the report, the parents told the officers the game was over and they were leaving.
Despite the chaos, the Winter Park Police Department said the incident was a “civil matter” and not “criminal” in a news release issued on Monday. No arrests were made, and no one trespassed nor was forced to leave the park.
A video of the incident made the rounds on social media, seemingly one that was recorded by one of the parents.
“They called the police on a 3-year-old cause he’s too good. They really called the police on a 3-year-old because he had the ball for too long and nobody else can get the ball,” the person recording said.
“You’re confused too, right? Like what is the real issue?” seemingly the mom in pink said. “They have an issue with a 3-year-old. They’re mad at the 3-year-old because me and him haven’t done nothing. We stand on the other side. We don’t never stand with the other parents. So, we’re not getting into it with other parents. We always on the other side. Everybody can tell you that we’re always on the this side. We are never interfering with other parents or arguing with the other parents.
“Things were said today because I see a bunch of grown-ups in one huddle talking about my son and he’s done nothing but playing soccer.”
The officers went on to clear the call at 10:30 a.m. and the family left the field, cooperating with the league’s request, per the report.
