Jackie Robinson West admits using ineligible players during the 2014 Little League World Series
A Chicago Little League team has admitted it used ineligible players during the 2014 World Series causing it to be stripped of its U.S. championship. The admission is part of an agreement that ends a lawsuit in Cook County court between the Jackie Robinson West (JRW) Little League and Little League International.
The agreement states in part the U.S. championship will not be reinstated and JRW admits its tournament team did not meet residency and school attendance eligibility requirements. Following an investigation, Little League President and CEO Stephen D. Keener said in February 2015 JRW knowingly without approval expanded its boundaries to include territory that belonged to other leagues and a falsified boundary map was used to determine eligibility.
“No team can be allowed to attempt to strengthen its team by putting players on their roster that live outside their boundaries,” he said. Little League stripped the world series team of its victories including the U.S. championship, suspended the manager and put the league on probation. In March 2015 it dissolved Illinois District 4 that included JRW and transferred the leagues to two other districts. JRW defeated Las Vegas, Nevada, 7-5, for the U.S. title but lost to Seoul, South Korea, 8-4, in the world championship game.
The decision to strip the U.S. title sparked controversy with the Illinois House and Senate each passing resolutions asking Little League to rescind it. In February 2016, parents of 13 members of the JRW team sued Little League, ESPN, its TV personality Stephen A. Smith and Chris Janes, a Little League volunteer from Evergreen Park, Illinois, who brought the activity to light. They contended Little League had no right to challenge the eligibility of the players ...
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2021/04/jackie-robinson-west-admits-using-ineligible-players-during-the-2014-little-league-world-series.html
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