Two San Antonio high school football players have been suspended after intentionally ramming into a referee on the field, according to NewsMax. The event has been described as "inexcusable" and "disturbing" by Northside Independent School District athletic director Stan Laing.
The referee was first hit from behind by one player, causing the referee's head to snap backward. The second player then jumped on top of the referee. The game was between John Jay and Marble Falls high schools, NewsMax reported. There will be a hearing within the school system itself to investigate the event. Game officials, students and coaches are expected to testify. There was about a minute left in the game, played Friday, when the referee was hit by the two John Jay players.
Both players have said that the referee in question was using racist language toward them prior to the incident, according to The Guardian. Police are investigating the event. The name of the players have not been made public. An assistant football coach alleged to have encouraged the players to take revenge against the referee has been played on leave. The two players are suspended from the football team indefinitely.
The referee is considering his options to bring charges against the two players, according to Inquisitr. "These types of actions against any game official at any level are inexcusable...We fully support the suspensions of the players involved, along with a full and complete investigation by the Texas University Interscholastic League," NFL Referees Association executive director Jim Quirk said in a statement.
In football and other athletic sports, the referee is considered to be a part of the field of play.
Marble Falls won the game 15 to 9.
