Shock Verdict: Long Island Soccer Coach Michael Stallone Faces Child Endangerment—What You Didn't See Coming!

A Nassau jury delivered a split verdict on Tuesday in the trial of Michael Stallone, a Floral Park father accused of rushing onto a youth soccer field and striking an 11-year-old girl in the face after a collision during a game. The jury acquitted Stallone of the most serious charge, third-degree misdemeanor assault, but found him guilty of endangering the welfare of a child.

The jury deliberated for just an hour and a half before reaching their decision. Stallone's defense attorney, Marc Gann, commented on the verdict, stating, "I think they split the baby. It doesn't really shock me. I knew the harder of the charges to kind of disprove would be the endangering welfare of a child, because it's kind of an amorphous charge." Gann acknowledged that Stallone's action of stepping onto the field violated league rules regarding parent conduct.

Following the verdict, the girl's father expressed his frustration outside the courtroom, visibly angry about the jury's decision. "Not guilty?" he shouted. "What did she do wrong? Tell me? Play the sport she loved?" He continued, clearly dismayed that Stallone would not face severe consequences for hitting his daughter during a game.

Witnesses, including the girl, her coach, and her mother, testified throughout the week-long trial, describing the chaos that ensued when Stallone stormed onto the field. Prosecutors painted a vivid picture of the moment, noting that Stallone yelled, "What do you think you are doing?" and struck the girl with the palm of his hand, leaving a visible mark on her face.

Evidence presented during the trial included a seven-second video clip of the incident, filmed during a match between the SUSA soccer academy and a girls' team aged 12-and-under in the Long Island Soccer League on September 28, 2024. The footage showed the collision between players and Stallone’s intervention, further complicating the narrative of the event.

Gann argued that the referee had lost control of the game, citing prior injuries to other players as evidence of the chaotic environment. The video shows Stallone approaching the young girl and appearing to shove her after she collided with another player. One parent in the background can be heard calling out, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ref!"

Despite Stallone’s defense claiming that his actions were instinctive, Gann suggested that the injury the girl sustained occurred during the initial collision and not from Stallone’s intervention. He contended that the angle from which Stallone approached the girl made it impossible for him to have struck her as described by witnesses.

The incident ended with Stallone's wife rushing to pull him off the field as referees halted the game. Prosecutors, however, argued that her actions indicated a need to restrain him from further aggression. Assistant District Attorney Daniel Golden asserted during closing arguments, "When Michael Stallone took matters into his own hands and struck a child, it was because he was angry with a play on the field." He emphasized that Stallone's intentions were clear and that he intended to harm the girl.

Following the incident, the girl's parents reported that she was shaken and hesitant to continue playing soccer. Nonetheless, Gann mentioned that she has since returned to the sport, suggesting resilience in the face of adversity.

Stallone now faces up to a year in jail due to the A-level misdemeanor conviction. His sentencing is scheduled for February 3. This case has ignited discussions about parental behavior in youth sports, reigniting debates about the conduct expected from adults in environments meant for children, a topic that has garnered increasing attention in recent years.