A nine-year-old footballer who was banned for smirking after injuring an opponent has quit his club.

Bradley King, whose goal-scoring skills have attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Wimbledon, was given a two-match ban by officials at Withdean 2000.

But his parents say they were kept in the dark about the suspension and only found out after their son was told by a school friend who had nothing to do with the team.

Bradley's mum Lea said he was not booked for the tackle, faced no disciplinary action at the end of the game and turned up at the next week's training session without it being mentioned.

But two days later, the youngster, whose cousin Lance Cronin is a goalkeeper on Crystal Palace's books, was distraught after being told he was out of the team.

Mrs King, of Haybourne Road, Whitehawk, Brighton, said: "Bradley did a tackle that was 50-50. He didn't get sent off or anything but the other boy's ankle was swollen. My husband asked jokingly if he got a corner out of it and Bradley laughed at him as he walked off, saying 'no dad.'

"He came home from school saying he had been suspended. I phoned the manager to ask him what was going on and he said there had been a meeting and they decided to suspend Bradley because they didn't like him laughing.

"Bradley is now worried about playing football again and doesn't want to tackle anyone in case he gets into trouble."

Bradley said: "When I found out I was suspended I felt really bad. I never meant to hurt the boy. I didn't even think I had hurt him.

"I hit the ball. I went to tackle him and actually hit the ball, then it came off him and he tripped over my leg.

"When my friend told me I was suspended I was scared because I thought I was never going to be able to play again.

"I didn't know when they were going to tell me I was suspended or what was going on. Now I just want to find another team and start playing football again."

The club's manager, Paul James, said the two- match ban was doled out because the youngster walked away smirking after the tackle, which left his opponent, from the Seagulls junior team, with a swollen ankle.

Mr James said at the end of the game he was confronted by officials from the opposition who were appalled.

He said: "It was an extremely dodgy tackle. The club doesn't tolerate actions like that.

"We've never had it before and we don't want it again.

"The reason Bradley is suspended is for his reaction after the incident and because his father didn't apologise to the other boy's mother.

"She tried to talk to him and he walked away.

"It's my football team and I'm entitled to suspend who I want.

"The only reason Bradley wasn't booked is because this is under-10s soccer. They don't get booked. They don't even have proper referees."

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