On Sunday, video surfaced that appeared to show 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton getting into a scuffle at a 7-on-7 youth soccer tournament in Atlanta.
The video shows Newton, wearing one of his custom-made hats, being pushed by three people at the top of a staircase before pushing, shoving and grabbing his way toward a fence line. The altercation lasted about 30 seconds before it was broken up by a police officer and event security.
Newton, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft, doesn't appear to throw any punches in the video and appears to fend off three other men. There's a hit in Newton's direction, but it's unclear if the hit landed on the former quarterback. It is also uncertain what sparked the dispute.
Newton, an Atlanta native, leads the C1N, an organization founded in 2021 that focuses on developing the skills of young athletes in soccer by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level in 7-on-7 tournaments, according to Newton's website and other events. The website states that the organization's mission is to create an environment that promotes growth and development on and off the field and helps young athletes achieve their goals in football and in life. C1N competes in tournaments across the country.
Newton's 15-year-old team won the championship at the event, which was run by We Ball Sports, an apparel and media company. We Ball Sports co-founder Nehemiah Mitchell told The Athletic that Newton was among the people banned from the event following the confrontation.
Attempts to reach Newton's representatives Sunday evening were unsuccessful. The Athletic reported that Newton was confronted by two coaches from TopShelf Performance, which runs youth programs and is involved in training youth, college and professional wide receivers.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent incident involving Cam Newton and our thoughts are with all affected parties,” TopShelf Performance trainers/trainers Stephon and TJ Brown said in a statement to The Athletic. “Violence has no place in our community and we strongly condemn any form of aggression.”
Newton hasn't played in the NFL since 2021, when he spent part of the season with the Carolina Panthers, the same team that drafted him. The 34-year-old spent 11 seasons in the NFL, throwing for more than 32,000 yards and 194 touchdowns. He also ran for 75 touchdowns during his time with the Panthers and New England Patriots.