Jay-Z’s sports management company, Roc Nation Sports, has sent a message of support to Nevada Pierre, the 3-year-old soccer player at the centre of a viral row after police were called to a youth game in Winter Park, Florida.
In a graphic shared from the verified @rocnationsports Instagram account, the agency wrote: “Nevada, you’re a shining star! We support you and your amazing talents. Keep being great!”
The post has been widely shared by fans and news pages, adding a big-name endorsement to a story that has already drawn millions of views and sparked a fierce debate about how youth sports treat gifted children. Roc Nation Sports has not said whether its support goes beyond the message.
Who Is Roc Nation Sports?
Roc Nation Sports is the sports arm of Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z. Launched in 2013, it represents high-profile athletes across football, basketball, American football and boxing. Its football clients have included some of the biggest names in the game, making its public praise a notable moment for a child who is just three years old.
What Happened in Winter Park
Nevada plays in a local i9 Sports league in Winter Park, competing against children up to two years older. His mother, Martasia Griffin, says he has scored more than 40 goals in five games. She says the league stopped play when he was on the pitch and that other parents and staff discussed how to keep him out of games. Her claim that he was removed for being “too good” spread quickly on social media.
Winter Park Police have since released body-camera footage and a statement giving their account. According to police, a league director called them to report that a player’s parent was being disruptive and asked for help getting the parents to leave. Police said “there was never any suggestion that the call to police was prompted over the child’s on-field talent.”
In the footage, league official Thomas Hayes describes Nevada as “very advanced” but says he had been pushing other players while scoring. Hayes says he rotated children so everyone got playing time, and that Nevada’s parents objected when he was substituted and caused “a big scene”. The family was already leaving when officers arrived. No one was trespassed, and police described the matter as “a civil matter” between the league and the parents. The league offered to refund the family’s registration fee.
In a statement, i9 Sports said: “The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us.” It said it would not speculate or share unverified information.
GoFundMe Passes $33,000
Griffin has launched a GoFundMe campaign called “Support Nevada’s Soccer Journey” to help cover training, equipment, registration fees and travel costs. She says the aim is to help him keep playing “in a more supportive setting”. As of October 27, the campaign had raised more than $33,000, according to reports.
Griffin said her son “could not understand why he was being taken away from a game he loved.”
A Debate Bigger Than One Game
The incident has divided opinion online. Many supporters say Nevada was treated unfairly because of his talent, and some have raised questions about race, as he is Black, although there has been no official finding to support that. Others point to the police footage and say the dispute was about the adults’ behaviour rather than the child’s ability.
What is not in doubt is Nevada’s remarkable skill for his age. With public support from figures such as Roc Nation Sports and former US international Eddie Johnson, and a growing fund to back his development, the toddler’s football journey is now being followed far beyond Florida.
Read our earlier report: 3-Year-Old Soccer Star Nevada Pierre Escorted From Youth Game by Police After Family Says He Was “Too Good”.