Athletic association of New Jersey claimed on Saturday that a referee who asked a high school wrestler to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit, that created issues from an Olympian, the state’s governor, and many others, will not be given any matches until the case is sent for review.
Michael Cherenson, the spokesman for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, had to claim that the association had reached out to groups that allocate referees “and they’ve all agreed” about not employing Alan Maloney to any event until further notice. Buena Regional High School wrestler Andrew Johnson, who has made a comeback, wrapped his hair Wednesday night during a match.
But Maloney, a white, claimed that wouldn’t do. An SNJ, Today reporter, made a video tweet of Johnson chopping off his hair a few minutes prior start of the match. Johnson managed to win but was distraught. “This is nonsense,” a message on Burroughs’ Twitter account said. “My opinion is that this was a combination of an abuse of power, racism, and just plain negligence.”
In a video posted on Instagram, he criticized parents and coaching staff at the match for not intervening, calling it “absolutely shameful.” Burroughs termed Johnson “courageous” for his presentation in the match despite “all of the adversity and racism that you were facing at the moment.”
The southern New Jersey wrestler said Maloney had been the referee for some of his high school matches growing up. Gov. Phil Murphy emphasized the matter on Twitter, claiming that he was “deeply disturbed” by the story. “No student should have to choose between his or her identity and playing sports needlessly,” he said.
The state attorney general’s office has made it clear about an investigation by the Division on Civil Rights. The school superintendent made it clear in a letter to the community that they support and stand by all the fellow athletes. Maloney came into the limelight (in a negative way) in 2016 for a racial insult against a black referee, as per the Courier-Post newspaper.
