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Lifetime ban handed to youth league football coach for assaulting player during game
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
A youth football coach received a lifetime ban from the American Youth Football league after assaulting a player in a game earlier this week in Kissimmee, Florida according to Yahoo Sports.
In the disturbing video, the man identified by Yahoo Sports as coach Gerrel Williams can be seen twice striking a player on his 9-and-under Savannah (GA) Gators team.
Someone shared this with me. It was on their Facebook page. Supposedly happened in Florida during some championships during the past week. Anyone know disposition? Should’ve been arrested . . . . . Absolutely, totally uncalled for. We have to rid sports of “coaches” like this. pic.twitter.com/X57VMr7Rfe
— Chris Fore (@CoachFore) December 9, 2020
The AYFL deemed Williams’ actions as a “complete breach” of its code of conduct, and elected to expelled him from all upcoming events.
Williams also lost his job as a counselor in the detention center at the Chatham County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office.
“We reviewed the video, we did an internal investigation, we brought him in, we interviewed him and he is no longer employed,” a spokeswoman said to Yahoo Sports. “We do not condone that type of behavior.”
Williams issued a public apology on video.
Weak apology #SavannahGators Coach after hitting child. pic.twitter.com/3HOW6S7c65
— IB 🔌 THE GAMBLER (@incarceratedbob) December 9, 2020
“At the end of the day, I am a man, and I’m not gon’ make no excuses for what I did. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have disciplined him in public — I shoulda waited ‘til he got back — for doing what he did,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, I apologize to him, the kids, the city … and my family back at home. I do apologize. There’s no excuse for my actions. I hope he forgive me, and his parents have forgiven me.”
The mother of the player stated to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department that she isn’t going to press charges.
Rolando Rosa brings his experience covering college football to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @RolandoRosa3.