A fight involving youths and possibly some adults broke out between two teams at a Redding soccer game on Sunday.
The game was part of the SMASH Cup tournament, which took place in Redding over the Oct. 25-27 weekend, said Alek Pinnell, Redding Youth Soccer League and North State Soccer president.
Redding Police Cpl. Ryan O’Hern said officers got a call at 11:20 a.m. Sunday from a person who reported a fight at Shasta High School “involving numerous juveniles and possibly some adults.”
Those interviewed by officers said the skirmish was between two soccer teams and parents. “The fight was broken up, and no one was hurt,” and no one pressed charges, O’Hern said.
Both teams in the fight were disqualified, Pinnell said, and match officials called off the game.
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“As this is still an ongoing investigation into the matter we are not ready to release the (names of) parties involved,” said Pinnell, but “Redding Youth Soccer League and North State Soccer have a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding referee abuse, whether physical or verbal. Such behavior is unacceptable, and we have referred this incident up the chain of command to our governing bodies for swift and appropriate action.”
Shasta Union High School District Superintendent Jim Cloney said the school let Redding Youth Soccer use its field for the game, and that the event wasn’t a school function.
The fight marred what was otherwise a fun weekend of soccer.
The tournament attracted approximately 1,400 kids, ages 8 to 18, in 90 teams from all over California, Oregon and Nevada, Pinnell said. The kids played more than 165 games at Shasta County venues over the three-day event.
An acronym for Saving Mammaries and Supporting Hope, the SMASH Cup tournament raises money for breast cancer awareness. “This year’s event raised $12,000 for NorCal Think Pink,” Pinnell said.
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Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter@RS_JSkropanic and onFacebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work,please subscribe today. Thank you.
