Soccer Lawsuit Now Federal Case

ABERDEEN, Miss. (AP) – A lawsuit that alleges a new rule by a state athletic group will limit how many independent or select soccer team players can participate on their high school teams has been moved to federal court.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports (http://bit.ly/15XydR6) that the Mississippi High School Activities Association moved a lawsuit to federal court in Aberdeen from local chancery court.

A hearing had been set for Tuesday in chancery court in New Albany.

The participation lawsuit was filed earlier this week by 16 players and their parents or guardians from Tupelo and Starkville, who asked the chancery court for a temporary delay in enforcement of the new MHSAA rule.

MHSAA associate director Rickey Neaves says the new rule will not “ruin” high school or independent teams.