Youth soccer league face 7-year ban by City of Coachella

Members from a youth soccer league are voicing their concern after being banned from playing on Coachella fields.

A number of children from the Coachella Valley Desert League do not have a safe place to practice, according to Victor Alcántara who coaches one of the teams.

He says the City of Coachella imposed a 7-year ban after the league didn’t provide documents the city was asking for on time.

However, Alcántara says they have since submitted the documents but city officials have still not lifted that ban.

Those within the league say sports is a way for children to steer clear from gang activity, and taking that away does not seem an issue concerning city officials.

Alcántara says when his league practices at one of the soccer fields, they are either not allowed to step foot or at times even kicked out.

“Once we were practicing at the Rancho Las Flores Park and there was also another Coachella league that only has 130 children and the ranger came to try to get us out. I told him that I live here and that I was not going to leave, then 20 minutes later the sprinklers were turned on.”

League officials say there is plenty of playing space for multiple leagues at the soccer parks and hopes this issue can be resolved.

After the story aired Monday on KUNA Noticias, the City of Coachella has contacted Alcántara to request a meeting.

We have reach out to the city for comment. We have yet to receive a response.