A New Jersey refreee with an alleged racist past who forced a black teenager to cut his dreadlocks during a wrestling match will be sitting in the bleachers for a while.
A video of an official cutting the hair of Andrew Johnson, a student at Buena Regional High School, in Atlantic County, went viral on Twitter on Thursday night and sparked immediate outrage.
In response to the incident, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said the referee involved, Alan Maloney, would be sitting out some matches as they investigate.
“Given the degree of attention being focused on this matter, the NJSIAA will recommend to chapter officials that the referee in question not be assigned to any event until this matter has been reviewed more thoroughly,” according to the association’s Twitter statement.
Johnson was in a dual meet against Oakcrest High School in Hamilton, New Jersey, when Maloney ordered him to get a haircut or forfeit. The ref didn’t give the student the option of wearing a cap, according to NJ.com.
In March 2016, Maloney allegedly used a racial slur during an argument at a Jersey Shore condo after a youth-wrestling tournament in Wildwood, according to NJ.com. He later apologized.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also tweeted his outrage about the incident.
“I’m deeply disturbed that Andrew Johnson, a student at Buena Regional H.S., was forced to choose between keeping his dreadlocks and competing in a wrestling tournament, Murphy tweeted. “No student should have to needlessly choose between his or her identity and playing sports.”