Police are investigating the shocking soccer fight that marred a high school game in South Dakota and sparked calls for a player to be given a lifetime ban.
The vicious attack occurred just minutes before halftime in last week’s clash between the Brookings High School Bobcats and Rapid City Central Cobblers.
Following a collision, Rapid City Central’s Jaxson Bergman confronted Kyler Soost of Brookings, shoving him to the turf before kicking him on the back of the head and then unleashing a barrage of punches to his rival’s head.
The referee and coaches sprinted over to stop Bergman, while one of Soost’s teammates confronted Bergman, who was shown a red card. The game eventually resumed after a 10-minute delay.
The incident – which was streamed live on YouTube – quickly flooded social media, with many fans calling for Bergman to be banned for life.
Now the authorities are looking into the incident, with Brookings Police telling KELOLAND that officers will interview more than 100 witnesses and review extensive footage of the fight.
A South Dakota high school soccer play shoved a rival and then kicked and punched his head
The referee and coaches rushed to intervene as the violence broke out last week
South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) executive director Dan Swartos told KELOLAND after the ‘unacceptable scenario’ that any player shown a red card must sit out the next game and take a sportsmanship course.
Rapid City Central, meanwhile, promised that ‘appropriate actions will be taken,’ with Bergman facing possible expulsion.
According to reports, the Rapid City School District’s code of conduct policy states that students ‘found guilty of physically or verbally assaulting students or school personnel’ could be suspended or expelled, provided the incident happens on school property or in a school-sponsored event.
Superintendent Dr Summer Schultz also released a statement on behalf of the Brookings School District which said: ‘Participation in school athletics is a privilege. With that privilege comes the responsibility to compete with sportsmanship, respect, and accountability. Emotions can run high in competition, but how we respond in difficult moments matters.
‘I would ask everyone to remember that we are dealing with young people, and our obligation is to provide a safe and supportive environment as they move forward from an incident that has gained national attention. We recognize there are questions about what happens next. Student disciplinary matters are private, including between school districts.
‘While we cannot share those details, we can continue to support our students, reflect on the lessons we can take from this experience, and maintain the expectation that school athletics should help young people become better competitors, teammates, and people.’
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