A South Dakota high school soccer player is facing calls for a lifetime ban after a video showed him kicking and repeatedly punching an opponent during a match on Friday. The incident occurred between Jaxson Bergman of Rapid City Central and Kyle Soost of Brookings just before halftime.
Video of the altercation shows Bergman shoving Soost to the ground after the two players vied for the ball. Bergman then kicked Soost in the back of the head before punching him five times in the head. Another player, Caylon Peters, then intervened and threw punches at Bergman before the play was broken up.
A coach escorted Bergman from the field. The match was suspended for 10 minutes before play resumed. It is unclear what disciplinary actions, if any, have been announced by the school or athletic association.
Social media users have widely condemned the actions, with many calling for Bergman to be banned from playing soccer permanently. Comments on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) expressed outrage, with some users suggesting police involvement and severe consequences for the player's behavior.