According to Simi Valley police, the incident occurred after a game being held at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Center at about 5 p.m. Monday. At the end of the game, a verbal fight escalated into a shoving match between players. Bart Allan, the coach of a team representing Conejo Valley, rushed onto the field and began throwing punches.
Witnesses say Allan, 47, struck a 16-year-old male player from an Antelope Valley team. The teen was reportedly struck in the face, causing significant injury to his nose and cheek. Allan admitted to police that he did throw punches during the altercation, but he said he did not hit any juvenile players.
The injured teen's parents sought medical treatment for their son. No one else was injured, and no other arrests were made.
Allan, from Westlake Village, was arrested on two felony charges of battery and corporal injury to a child. He was booked into the East Valley Jail.
The Conejo Valley United Soccer Club said in a statement, "We are deeply concerned by the allegations made against one of our coaches and are working aggressively to determine what happened. Pending the result of these investigations, we have suspended the coach in question from all activities."
Jim Lacy, a neighbor, said he was surprised to hear about the accusations.
"That doesn't sound like his character at all," he said.
