Missouri High School Football Referee Suspended Indefinitely After Grabbing Player
The official's actions were captured on video during a game between Glendale and Kickapoo.
A high school football referee in Missouri has been suspended indefinitely following an incident where he grabbed a player during a game. The event occurred Thursday during a matchup between Glendale High School and Kickapoo High School.
Video footage of the game shows Glendale wide receiver Joelle Rover scoring a 47-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. After the score, as Rover and a teammate engaged in a celebratory dance, the official approached Rover and grabbed his chest, pulling him to face a different direction. A brief, heated exchange followed between the player and the official.
Glendale head coach Frank Tristan was seen on video confronting another official about the incident, stating, "He doesn’t need to be touching my player. You talk to me. That’s ridiculous. He needs to grow up."
The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) became aware of the situation and issued the indefinite suspension. "We were made aware of the situation, and the official in question has been suspended indefinitely," MSHSAA communications director Andrew Kauffman confirmed in a statement.
Springfield Public Schools, which oversees both Glendale and Kickapoo, is collaborating with MSHSAA to review the incident. "We have engaged with MSHSAA to ask them to review the situation due to our concern," Springfield Public Schools Chief Communications Officer Stephen Hall said.
Despite the sideline dispute, Glendale secured a decisive victory over Kickapoo with a final score of 35-6. The win brought Glendale's season record to 4-3, while Kickapoo's record fell to 1-6.