I think you're off base with this one, SpamRay. You noted the one team was beating the other 32-0, and somehow they got so excited they forgot they were so far ahead? Bullcrap. That's a team/coach/parents who were just demolishing the losing team, and enjoying it. That's not winning, a game score that lop-sided is just abuse. Why were those teams even in the same league?If my kid was on the losing side of that fracas, and there were no repercussions for the coach who ignored the league rule, I'd pull my kid out of the league altogether.
The point that I'm making is that football, soccer, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, cricket or whatever at this level is just a game. Kids should be encouraged to play, not just play to win. There are far too few opportunities for physical activity for American school-kids, so any chance they get to play, they should be encouraged to play. Humiliating a team of little kids so one group can drive up the score even more egregiously is not doing that.
The broader point I've seen explicated by a few responses is that kids need to learn to win, so they are better prepared for life in general. Sure, if you want kids to be sociopathic little monsters that have zero empathy or ability to work cooperatively. I want my son to learn how a team operates, how players with strong skills in one or another area share the load, communicate and work together so the whole team wins. And realize as well that next season they could be the ones on the "other" team, so play fair and enjoy the game.
The quote I like that best exemplifies my point of view is from Martina Navratilova; "What matters isn't how well you play when you're playing well. What matters is how well you play when you're playing badly."