On the 19th of December, Andrew Johnson decided to trim his locks following an ultimatum from a coach. The family members of Johnson have chosen not to take any legal steps concerning the incident that occurred before the wrestling match. An emergency meeting was conducted by the local school board of Buena on a Wednesday evening. It was disclosed by the board that the wrestling team will not be participating in competitions officiated by Alan Maloney, the referee.
Reports indicate that during a match against Oakcrest on Thursday, a wrestler from Buena High School in Atlantic County was instructed by a referee known for racist practices to cut the long hair of a fellow wrestler. In case of non-compliance, the wrestler would face consequences. Andrew Johnson decided to comply and cut his hair. Various social media posts have highlighted the partial and racist behavior of the referee, with New Jersey senior media personnel exposing derogatory racial remarks made by Alan Maloney during a social gathering in March 2016.
Maloney, a white individual, has been embroiled in several controversial incidents over recent years, including an altercation at a gathering of officials in Wildwood. Another official of color, Preston Hamilton, criticized Maloney for his actions. A video posted by Mike Frankel from SNJ Today News on Twitter further intensified outrage on social media, demanding accountability for the racist conduct of Maloney.
Subsequently, there was widespread outrage on social media, urging disciplinary action against the racist referee Maloney. Critics questioned why Johnson was singled out to cut his hair while other long-haired wrestlers were allowed to compete in the tournament. As per the regulations of the National Association of State High School Associations, wrestlers are typically permitted to wear approved hair coverings during matches.
