A referee gave a high school wrestler 90 seconds to cut his hair or face disqualification, according to a statement released by his parents.
Video showing Buena Regional wrestler Andrew Johnson’s hair being cut in the middle of the wrestling tournament garnered millions of views and sparked accusations of racism.
Referee Alan Maloney has come under fire while others have defended the decision saying it was in the rules.
There were no issues at a tournament the weekend before, when “Andrew was permitted to wrestle without issue, a fact that his coaches conveyed to the referee when pleading on his behalf,” according to the statement released by the family’s attorney.
The decision should have been made before the meet, and is typically done during weigh-ins, but Maloney was late, attorney Dominic Speziali said.
The 16-year-old was wearing a head covering over the dredlocks, but Maloney rejected that just before the start of the match.
Despite efforts by the wrestler and his coaches to satisfy the referee without cutting his hair, Johnson was forced to make the decision, the statement says, making it clear that neither the coaching staff nor athletic trainer influenced the teen.
Video posted by SNJ Today’s Mike Frankel shows the trainer cutting Johnson’s hair. Behind them, Maloney was “directing her to keep cutting until he was satisfied with the length,” Speziali said.
“As this matter is further investigated, the family wants to be clear that they are supportive of Andrew’s coaches and team’s athletic trainer,” the attorney said. “The blame here rests primarily with the referee and those that permitted him to continue in that role despite clear evidence of what should be a disqualifying race-related transgression.”
It was not clear whether the family would be pursuing any legal recourse.
The statement said that “Andrew has been deeply moved by the thunderous outpouring of unsolicited support — including from an Olympic wrestler, leading civil rights advocates and elected officials — after a shocking pre-match ultimatum.”
The referee who forced a Buena teen to either cut his dreadlocks or forfeit his match is out while the matter is reviewed. Buena Regional High School’s Andrew Johnson tried to wrestle with a cover over his dreds ... Read more
