A 16-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct after she ran onto a middle school football field and tackled a player during a game on Tuesday night. The incident occurred during a contest between South Middle School and Cornersville Middle School at Franklin County High School in Winchester.
Tensions on the field had escalated after South Middle School scored a touchdown and an extra point, leading to a brief scuffle among players. Video footage captured the moment the girl sprinted onto the field and charged at a South Middle School player involved in the altercation. She tackled the player, knocking him to the ground, and then shoved him again as he attempted to stand.
A man, appearing to be a coach, intervened to separate the two individuals and prevent further physical engagement. A school resource officer met with the teenager as she was escorted off the field. She was subsequently released to her parents.
Following the incident, school district officials and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association took swift action. The girl received a lifetime ban from all Franklin County Schools properties and is prohibited from attending any Cornersville Middle School athletic events, whether home or away.
This incident follows other recent cases of violence at youth sporting events. Police are investigating a soccer fight that disrupted a high school game in South Dakota, where one player shoved and punched a rival. Social media commentary following that event included calls for the offending player to receive a lifetime ban.