High school wrestler reportedly forced to cut off dreadlocks or forfeit match
By Justin Carissimo
/ CBS News
A white referee is under fire after he forced a high school wrestler from New Jersey to cut off his dreadlocks or forfeit a match last week. Andrew Johnson, a wrestler at Buena Regional High School, was given the option, SNJ Today News reported.
Johnson opted to cut his hair and compete. He went on to win the match by takedown. His school defeated Oakcrest High School 41-24.
Video of the incident shows a trainer cutting his dreadlocks as people at the gymnasium watched.
Epitome of a team player ⬇️
A referee wouldn't allow Andrew Johnson of Buena @brhschiefs to wrestle with a cover over his dreadlocks. It was either an impromptu haircut, or a forfeit. Johnson chose the haircut, then won by sudden victory in OT to help spark Buena to a win. pic.twitter.com/f6JidKNKoI
— Mike Frankel (@MikeFrankelSNJ) December 20, 2018
Activists on social media have since called for the referee, who was identified as Alan Maloney, to be fired. Shaun King, an activist and columnist for The Intercept, called the incident "disgusting and heartbreaking" on Twitter.
In 2016, Maloney was accused of calling Preston Hamilton, a black referee, the N-word at a social gathering. Hamilton then slammed Maloney to the ground. Both referees were suspended for the incident, but they both won an appeal and were reinstated, the Courier Post reported.
Maloney told the publication he didn't remember the incident but said he believed the accounts of eyewitnesses.
First published on December 21, 2018
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Justin Carissimo
Justin Carissimo is a breaking news editor at CBS News.
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