By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
After the Vandegrift girls soccer team made history on Saturday by winning the first-ever UIL soccer, state public school championship in the Austin area, a Georgetown police officer’s handling of the postgame celebration has brought nationwide attention to the game.
As time expired, students and fans dropped down from the visitors side bleachers and began rushing the field, despite the public address announcer’s warnings to stay off the field. Georgetown police officer George Bermudez, who was on duty and in uniform at the stadium, was recorded on several videos allegedly tripping one person, attempting to trip another, restraining another and pushing yet another as students poured onto the field. One student hit the ground and then limped away.
“They’re kids… you don’t have to treat them like that,” a soccer fan in the bleachers said while watching the incident unfold.
Dozens of excited fans, mostly Vandegrift students, came onto the field after the Lady Vipers won the state championship soccer game on Saturday.
Photo by Scott W. Coleman
On Monday, Bermudez was put on paid administrative leave while a misconduct investigation is underway.
Steiner Ranch resident Nancy Phillips, whose daughter Bailey is a senior on the team, thinks the incident was a series of unfortunate events.
“The problem began when students at Friday’s semifinal game asked a security officer on duty whether they could rush the field if the team won Saturday, and he gave them permission,” she said.
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