6-year-old girl taken out of Hope Mills soccer game because of hair beads

The Hope Mills Parks and Recreation 2021 soccer rules handbook clearly states here that no hair beads are allowed.

The 6-year-old's mother says it was never explained to her why her daughter’s hair accessories were not allowed.

Gabriella was getting ready to play soccer through a program offered by Hope Mills Parks and Recreation.

The referee told her she could not play because of her hair.

“She was very upset she cried a few times and just had questions about what the issue was,” said Daraille Marshmon, Gabriella's mother.

Gabriella’s mother says her daughter has worn the same hairstyle several times before, at practice with no issue. On Monday they told her she had to remove her hair bows with no further explanation.

“I never imagined us personally being put in that situation to have to be removed because of your hair and all it took was someone to care enough to explain,” Marshmon said.

The 2021 Soccer rules say “No watches, rings, earrings or hair beads of any type are allowed.”

The park athletic director says the mother was informed that the beads were dangerous and was told her daughter could play if she removed them. However, she chose not to.

The mother says otherwise.

“If they would’ve told us it was the plastic clips at the end of her hair, we could’ve simply did that and we could have explained to her that the plastic clips may hit somebody in the eye - none of that was explained,” Marshmon said.

Gabriella will now have to use soft hair clips moving forward if she wants to play. Which is not a problem for the family.

“She has different style of bows, so I don’t have an issue with that but all people deserve is an explanation,” Marshmon said.

The athletic director says the incident may have been handled incorrectly by the referee. The refs are hired by a third party.