Dad accused of punching mom during kids' soccer game avoids trial

From the soccer pitch to the courtroom, two parents were set to square off against each other Monday morning in North Vancouver Provincial Court, but a last minute time out between the Crown and defence saw it called down.

On March 16, 2019, 42-year-old Jan Nizaar Ali of Surrey was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly punching 45-year old Stephanie Griffith of North Vancouverin the face.

But after some back and forth in thehallways of the North Vancouver courthouse Monday, the two sides came to a compromise of sorts.

Ali has entered into a peace bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three months andthe original assault charge was withdrawn.

Ali and Griffith were at AmblesidePark in West Vancouver watching their sons play soccer last March.

Griffith's son playsfor the WestVancouver FCs while Ali's son plays for Surrey'sB.C. Tigers.

According to West Vancouver police, the spat erupted after a parent picked up a game ball that had rolled out of bounds. A player on the opposing team alleged the parent was holding on to the ball to run out the game clock, police said.

At the time of the spat, the game had twominutes left and the Surrey Tigerswerewinning the match 2-0.

As tensions escalated,Griffith was punched in the jaw. She also alleges Ali began swearing at her 16-year-old daughter, asshe rushed to her mother's defence.

When policearrived at the park, they found a group of parents blocking Ali'svehicle from leaving the sports field.

The agreement between parties means Ali, who has no previous criminal record, won't be left with one, however, B.C. Soccer is conducting its own investigation.

Its disciplinary committee will be tasked with determining whether he should be banned from local soccerfields for life.