Sarasota Gators Youth Football Coaches, Player Attack Referee (VIDEO)

After watching this video, it's possible that football referees throughout the country are going to start asking for shoulder pads and helmets just like the players on both teams.

In the middle of a youth football game between the Sarasota Gators and North Port Huskies in Sarasota, Fla. on Saturday, a melee broke out after the Gators' coaching staff vehemently disagreed with a referee's call.

At the start of the video above, the Gators' coaching staff is arguing with the official who made the disputed call. One of the coaches then appears to attack the ref, but the situation explodes when one of the players flies over from the sideline and tackles the ref. Both teams rushed the field as an enormous brawl ensued.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said that they are conducting a criminal investigation based on the video.

James Jackson of WFTS.com reported that the sheriff's office was told by the referee that the coaches started yelling at him because they thought he was being unfair to the team. Per Jackson's report, two to three people in the video will face battery charges.

"There was no excuse for it," Huskies coach Mike Cody told his team a few days after the incident, via The Tampa Tribune. "One of the most disgraceful things I have ever seen in my 24 years of working with children."

As shocking as this video may be, attacking the referee has become an increasingly common response to a disputed call by athletes in many sports all around the world. In December, a high school basketball player in Desoto County (Fla.) grabbed the ref and threw him to the ground after he was ejected. The player was suspended and his coach said he would never play there again.

Ref attacks have also happened several times recently in low level soccer leagues overseas.

Paraguay soccer player Jose Pedroso was suspended for 27 games after he attempted to choke the referee during during a Chilean second-division match.

Earlier this month, a soccer player threw the ball at the official after receiving a yellow card. The referee then gave him a red card, causing the player to overreact and kick him.

WATCH VIDEO AT THE TOP

Comments

[streetlaw1]

02:40 AM on 09/07/2011

The Criminal charges have been filed against three coaches and a 14 year old. The team has been suspended but some of the Gators may be allowed to join other teams. That needs to be re-examined to be sure that any player, who came off the bench and onto the field is suspended for the season. the NFHS rules states such actions result in ejection. It is irrelevant why the substitute entered the field, he is ejected from the game. Suspending these players will send a correct message that sportsmanship/rules will be followed or the consequences will be dire.

Sadly, you had ex-cons in highly visible roles as coaches and mentors to the Gator team. I am surprised no background checks were done. That in itself is a concern or it should be for a parent.

If the prosecutor is worth his or her salt, this case should be prosecuted through a trial with a maximum penalty assessed if convicted. No plea deal should be made.

[Thomas Jay Minter]

03:27 PM on 09/06/2011

Whether the actions of the coaches and players who attacked the coach were racially motivated or not is debatable. What's not debatable is the double-standard surrounding the reporting of this incident. I'm all for rational thought and thinking beyond party affiliation; there's always more than one side to an issue and God knows the world would be a better place if everyone were a little more empathetic and truly open to different perspectives. However, had this coach been black and the others white then it would have made front page news on every major outlet and liberals would be foaming at the mouth. It's not to say that staunch white conservatives can't be insensitive when the shoe is on the other foot, but it shows that hypocrisy has roots on both sides of the fence. The race issue of today is much more complicated than "teabaggers" or "self-loathing whites." Screaming and blaming each other will never put things to rest. "The love you take is equal to the love you make." - Paul McCartney

[hlpnghandsrl]

01:30 PM on 09/05/2011

One punishment for all involved with the melee. No excuses, no exceptions for coaches, parents or officials, for they set the example for our children to follow. The young football player that assaulted the referee, should be suspended for the remainder of the season with mandatory counseling.
Those that responded properly and stayed out of the melee should not be punished and should be allowed to finish their season without execption.

[hlpnghandsrl]

01:24 PM on 09/05/2011

After watching another news story interviewing the coach of the Sarasota Gators it gives a new perspective of what was seen, and not seen, on the original video of this story. In my earlier post, I suggested the entire incident be investigated and anyone out of order should be charged. This is another one of those stories that the video does not give the entire story. According to the coach the referee in question had tripped over Dexter, one of the coaches, and begin to punch this coach five or six times. The difference this makes is the referee should face the same charges that everyone else is. If this, is in fact true, It now makes since why the referee did not want to press charges. Anyone, and I mean anyone, that committed an assault on that field, witnessed by players and attendees, should be punished.The entire team should not be suspended.The race crutch should be put in the closet and left there. In today’s society the only way one can be treated differently is if that person allows it. There are too many that will fight for the rights of others to allow any improprieties or injustices. I would rather teach our youth that you do not have to find reasons to accept poor behavior but stand up for their rights and not allow this to happen. Of course this should be done with non-violence and with the help of others. .

[samba2623]

05:59 AM on 09/04/2011

5 men against 1 = cowards

[Randian Roark]

10:52 PM on 09/03/2011

Resist we much.

[pntr4hire]

09:18 AM on 09/03/2011

They should change the name of the team to the Sarasota D.A.N.S.

[john e smith vi]

09:15 AM on 09/03/2011

I urge you to call:
Criminal Justice Building
2071 Ringling Blvd., Suite 400
Sarasota, FL 34237-7000
[phone]
And request that this crime be prosecuted for what it is. A HATE crime.

[CANTHATBE]

11:23 AM on 09/03/2011

The comment shows you know absolutely nothing about law.

[Iain Banks]

06:58 PM on 09/03/2011

LOL!

[Rakavic Hermes]

07:13 AM on 09/03/2011

Everyone is screaming racism here and that's doesn't appear to be the case. What I see is frustrated angry people violently attacking someone else because the call didn't go their way. The adults in this should be ashamed of themselves.
It's a game and should help teach life lessons and promote physical fitness. In life as in any sport the call is not always going to go your way, sometimes you just have to suck it up and go on, it's called character and it's slowly dissipating from our society, much to my chagrin.

[gintheb]

09:42 AM on 09/03/2011

The NON-censor here has allowed this to turn into a White Citizen's Council rally.

[tnbarrister1960]

11:12 AM on 09/03/2011

Isn't it about time?

[Dingo Bob]

11:10 PM on 09/03/2011

YOUR comment is floccinaucinihilipilification

[jck8033]

04:30 AM on 09/03/2011

The coaches should be sent to state prison for a minimum of two years and never be allowed again to coach youth sports in any capacity. The kid should go to "juvie" for at least a month and not be allowed to play organized football in the state for two years.

Set an example that this behavior will not be tolerated and disseminate to every youth coach in the state before the season begins that if you physically attack an sports official there will be consequences for your actions.

[pntr4hire]

09:21 AM on 09/03/2011

Dis-banning the team was a good start ! probation will be the worst these idiots get..

[CANTHATBE]

11:32 AM on 09/03/2011

Why not just hang everyone who attended the game by the neck until dead. As long as we are going overboard I thought I would throw that in.

Kicking everyone involved out the league permanently is enough. But the DA has to try to make a name for himself and over prosecute.

[gogogadget]

12:03 AM on 09/03/2011

Simple explanation for these actions are it's Bushes fault.

[clifardo]

06:57 PM on 09/03/2011

I couldn't agree more.

[brrryce]

04:12 PM on 09/04/2011

Had to get your quota in?

[gintheb]

12:02 AM on 09/03/2011

Who's moderating this story, David Duke?

[hmolina910]

01:16 AM on 09/03/2011

Roscoe P. Coltrane is helping him.

[ricklexus]

12:01 AM on 09/03/2011

blacks fighting..oh my! go to chicago. atlanta, cleveland, cincinatti, columbus, detroit, philly, an so on and so on ...

[brrryce]

04:21 PM on 09/04/2011

And, there are NO white people fighting in: Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Philadelphia and so on and so on? No women being domestically abused by white people? No children being physically harmed? No Congresswomen being shot? I'm lucky because my mother taught me and my sibs to look beyond color so I can be honest about race. With Teabaggers, there is no honesty about race (especially), so, ironically, when they are confronted with real situations where black people have an unfair advantage they have ZERO credibility. For them, black people are always the villains. I would daresay there are very, very, very few African Americans who have that same view of white people. Why? Because black people have to deal with race in a real way to survive. Teabaggers have the luxury of insulation. I find it fascinating that the two people Dick Cheney hated most in Bush's cabinet were Colin Powell and Condi Rice.

[Rubyredman]

10:13 AM on 09/05/2011

F&F

[SST001]

08:41 AM on 09/06/2011

Don't worry about white people, we can take care of ourselves. However we are worried about you...

Between 1976-2005, blacks made up 13% of the US population, but committed 59% of felony murders. Overall, blacks are 9 times more likely to commit murder than whites.

Source: US DOJ

[tnbarrister1960]

11:53 PM on 09/02/2011

Col. Burns said that two or three will be prosecuted for assault. Is that guy blind?

Many more should be prosecuted than that. Some should be prosecuted for hate crimes.

If the roles were reversed and the kid that decked the referee was white and the referee was black, that is all you would be hearing. Al and Jessie would be there the next day.

[Billybladerunner]

11:39 PM on 09/02/2011

Lot of Racial tension posted here ....It's uncalled for.....I'm White... Mob Rule can not be controlled ....did you ever see the clip of all the white Irish soccer fans ( hundreds ) chase the reff of the field, tried to kill him..

Today ...respect is a thing of the past ..white kids black kids ..and many many adults are all about .. don't be disrespecting me .... With No respect for authority ...elders ...Family . marriage...or each other.....

[rjrisright]

11:45 PM on 09/02/2011

What's uncalled for is THIS type of behavior.