Family Says They Even Showed Soccer Organization Medical Documents But They Refused to Let Her Play
An Omaha family says they were told their 8-year old girl was disqualified from playing in a girls’ soccer club tournament this weekend because she “looks like a boy.” Mili Hernandez, who is so talented she plays with 11-year olds, likes her hair cut short. Her family says that led organizers to insist she was a boy. Mili’s father tells WOWT he showed the soccer organization medical documents to prove she is a girl but they refused to change their decision, which also disqualified her entire team, the Azzuri-Cachorros Chicas, from playing.
“They only did it because I look like a boy,†Mili told WOWT News.Â
The Springfield Soccer Association also refused to talk to the press, directing them to the club’s attorneys. But after the media reported the story, the club now claims a typo in the roster accidently identified Mili as a boy. That of course does not explain why the organization refused to budge or why it penalized an 8-year old girl and her team for their mistake.
“We had a doctor’s physical form and it gave a description and it said her age and female, so we showed them that but they wouldn’t look at it,†Cruz Hernandez, Mili’s brother, told WOWT.
Almost immediately, Mili received support from two former-professional soccer stars, both Olympic gold medalists.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Mia Hamm took to Twitter to invite Mili to play at her soccer camp.
“Hey Mili, we would love to host you at one of our camps.” Hamm wrote, referring to the Team First Soccer Academy which she runs with other retired soccer stars. “Be you!”
Another two-time Olympic gold medalist, Abby Wambach, took to Twitter and recorded a video for Mili on Instagram, calling her courageous, a “born leader,” and “inspiring.”Â
“I’m so proud of you,” Wambach said in her video, below. “You can do anything you want to do, and you can be anything you want to be,” she added.
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