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Mississippi HS soccer player goes all Elizabeth Lambert on opponent

Feb 10, 2010, 12:00 PM EST

11 Comments

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When is a high school soccer fight more than a soccer fight? Zach Windom, a player for Gulfport High, can be seen in the following video grabbing Northwest Rankin’s Arlington Shirley in a headlock and pounding him with his fist, touching off a pretty wild melee and making high school soccer somewhat interesting for once. Gulfport had moments earlier taken a 1-0 lead in their Mississippi Class 6A High School state championship match in Clinton. Mississippi High School Athletic Association Associate Director Larry Thomas said the association is “gathering information about the fight,” and Shirley’s father said that his son ended up with a broken wrist. Should Windom be liable for medical damages? Is this a criminal case? And what’s up with the ref and his girly dance when the fight first breaks out?
More video following the jump.



From the Gulfport High school web site this morning: Our Boys team defeated NW Rankin to claim the 6A State Championship!! Congratulations on a job well done!!!!
One exclamation point for each of Windom’s punches?
From the Rankin Ledger:

Terrance Shirley, Arlington’s father, said his son was taken to the emergency room after the match and he had a broken wrist. The injury could have been suffered before the scuffle, Terrance Shirley said.

“It was the first time I’ve ever seen anything like that,” Terrance Shirley said of such a fight.

The father also said his son was deeply frustrated.

“He is used to playing at a level of soccer where you don’t think that something would happen like that,” Terrance Shirley said.

Does Windom’s action cross the line between soccer fight and aggravated assault?

Hinds County Chief Deputy Sheriff Steve Pickett said Tuesday that neither party had contacted the sheriff’s office to his knowledge but that the matter brought up several “gray areas.”

Yeah, mostly in my peripheral vision, doc. Another reason they call Mississippi The Hospitality State.
All in all, Elizabeth Lambert is unimpressed.
***
Soccer brawl penalties weighed [Rankin Ledger]
Now that’s a soccer fight [Unprofessional Foul]

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  1. Paul in KY - Feb 11, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    Not an Elizabeth Lambert class beatdown (IMO), but still a nasty scrum. The Gulfport kid should probably be suspended from any more sports for remainder of year (if a Senior) and given a hefty suspension for next year’s season (if an underclassman).
    Didn’t read the game writeup, but shouldn’t the NW Rankin team have gotten a penalty kick? Maybe they did.

  2. AZtech - Feb 11, 2010 at 1:38 PM

    Paul…you only get a Penalty Kick if the incident happens inside the 18 yard box (Penalty Area). Otherwise it would simply be a free kick.
    He was ejected from the game, so Gulfport had to play the remainder of the game with only 10 players instead of 11. He has also been suspended for the remainder of the school year (He is a senior). The Rankin player was suspended for 2 games, so the video clearly does not show everything that happened.
    Gulfport who were winning 1-0 when this happened, held on to win the game.

  3. Dude - Feb 11, 2010 at 4:13 PM

    What about the Ref was dancing away like a fairy around – :20 seconds in

  4. Paul in KY - Feb 12, 2010 at 12:16 PM

    AZTech, thank’s for you explanation. Not up on nuances of soccer (obviously).
    That ref probably regrets mincing around like that.

  5. Anthony Hewetson - Feb 12, 2010 at 3:38 PM

    How old is Windom? That is one heck of a beard for a high schooler. How much taller is Windom and how much does Windom outweigh Shirley. It is generally not a good idea, however provoked, to beat the crap out of someone that much smaller: it just doesn’t look that good on your guy resume, you know.

  6. Mike - Feb 15, 2010 at 11:39 AM

    The ref did exactly what he should have done. Start blowing his whistle, and back away from the situation. If the ref gets in there and starts manhandling the kids, he’s going to end up being the one with a lawsuit against him. Excellent refereeing.

  7. jonny - Feb 15, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    “online star sportsmanship training”? sounds like that would be REALLY effective…
    a referee wouldn’t end up with a lawsuit for pushing kids off of a fight. if any players strike him while he is breaking it up, they would be the ones charged with assault.

  8. RickR - Feb 15, 2010 at 9:12 PM

    You are absolutely correct. As officials were are instructed to stand back and start taking precise notes so that an accurate, official game report can be submitted to the authorities, who ultimately decide what sanctions will be necessary.
    With today’s litigious society, Mike is also correct. Never, ever lay your hands on a minor. Your life would be forever changed, right or wrong!

  9. Andy - Feb 15, 2010 at 9:53 PM

    As a referee myself, I can completely defend this refs actions. Not only could he have been sued by someone’s stupid parents, he could have been hurt himself when the other players rushed in. It is neither our desire nor our responsibility to break up a fight as referees.

  10. miss high school refs a joke - Mar 14, 2010 at 3:11 PM

    whoever designated this ref for the final was clueless. louis tran would have handled this situation as a professional should. for all of you idiots defending this ref, he red carded the kid who was jumped(huh?), then after protest by everyone on the pitch, he finally ejected the culprit. you guys defending him are probably equally as intimidated by this type of trash.

  11. George - Jul 3, 2010 at 7:16 PM

    Just saw this so it is obviously old, BUT WHAT is the other side of the story?!

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