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District: 2 Players Allege Ref Made Racial Slur Before Hit

Officials with a San Antonio school district say two football players accused of ramming into a referee during a high school game allege the referee directed racial slurs at them.

UPDATE:

Staff Report
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Officials with a San Antonio school district say two football players accused of ramming into a referee during a high school game allege the referee directed racial slurs at them.

Northside Independent School District Superintendent Brian T. Woods says an assistant football coach accused of suggesting the students retaliate against the referee has been placed on leave.

Woods says the two suspended John Jay High School students will have a disciplinary hearing.

Woods also says the district will file a complaint about the racial slur allegation with the Texas Association of Sports Officials.

Michael Fitch, the association's executive director, didn't immediately return a call Tuesday seeking comment.

The incident, captured on video, happened during a game Friday between John Jay and Marble Falls High School, north of San Antonio.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

Staff Report
NBC News

An investigation is underway in Texas after two high school football players appear to intentionally hit an official during a game.

The players involved have been suspended from the team while school officials look at the hit which was all caught on tape.

The hit comes with a minute left on the clock; the ref was hit from behind.

He's hit so hard his hat flies off before another player from San Antonio's John Jay High school dives into him- helmet first

The take down, caught from several angles- is now under investigation by the school district and interscholastic league. 

Both players have been suspended from the team

In a statement the school district said, "The video that we saw is extremely disturbing. We will deal with this on Tuesday and schedule a due process hearing, which will include formal interviews with game officials, coaching staffs and student-athletes. Northside ISD will not tolerate this kind of behavior."

The incident came as John Jay’s opponent marble falls was attempting to run out the clock for a 15-9 win after a contentious game where there were already several penalties against john jay for unsportsmanlike behavior.

On social media, reaction was fierce, many calling for criminal charges on top of expulsion.

But players and students from John Jay have tweeted the hit came after racial slurs were used by the official.

The referee couldn't be reached for comment. So those investigators will be watching that tape very closely and talking to all sides. The athletic director says he hopes to be able to know a lot more when school is back in session tomorrow. 

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