Footage has emerged of a referee being chased down and attacked by a group of high-school players and spectators.
The incident occurred after a Georgia youth basketball game, at the ‘Love Of The Game’ event at the Stronghold Christian Church.
A tournament official told TMZ Sport that the referee required 30 stitches.
The video, posted to NoPauseTV on Twitter, shows a group of players as well as spectators confronting the referee before swinging at them.
When the referee swings back in defence all hell breaks loose, with the players pinning the referee to the floor and punching and kicking him in shameful scenes.
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The New York Post spoke to Kenneth Tarver, the founder of KB Sports, which helped host the tournament, reporting that the team involved in the attack had been banned from future events with increased security set to take place for the rest of the tournament.
Former pro basketball player and current youth Basketball coach, Paris Cherry, told WSB-TV: “The referee appears outnumbered from the very start.
“I was appalled. It was a very scary video. To see the adults instigate and then the kids follow up to the point where it was the kids who chased down the referee at the end of the video, it’s just disgusting. And it seems like there wasn’t any adult trying to break it up.”
A pastor from the church told New York Post in a statement: “It is truly unfortunate about the turn of events that took place during the basketball game held at our facility this weekend.
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“We open our doors to serve our community and our goal is to provide an atmosphere conducive for enjoyment, enrichment, etc.
“While we can not control people, it is our hope and prayer that those who enter our facility will conduct themselves in the best manner.
“Our prayers go out to all those involved in this current situation.”
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One Twitter user said: “The video of a referee being jumped after a youth basketball game makes me ashamed to be a human. We must do better.”
A police investigation is still underway according to TMZ.
Topics: Basketball
Jayden Collins