High school football game ends after player head-butts referee

An Ohio high school football game was cut short over the weekend after a player head-butted a referee during an apparent argument.

Both the school district and the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) are investigating the incident, which occurred Saturday. During the second quarter of Roger Bacon High School’s season opener against Dayton Dunbar, Roger Bacon had driven the ball inside Dunbar’s 10-yard line. After marking off the ball, the referees were taking their positions when a Dunbar player turned and walked toward one of the officials. After saying a few words, the player lunged forward with his helmet and struck the referee in the face.

The player was immediately restrained by a teammate, but he then took off his helmet and started to walk toward another referee. That’s when coaches from the sideline made their way on to the field and intervened.

Here’s a clip of the incident:

The Roger Bacon-Dayton Dunbar football game was stopped in the second quarter because of a Dunbar player head butting an official. #ohsaa pic.twitter.com/HvfpkePaiV

— Chad Baker (@ChadBlue_) September 1, 2019

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Dayton Public Schools is already on probation by the OHSAA through June 2020, and Dunbar through 2022 for a 2016 incident where a student intentionally tried to lose a game. Dunbar also was banned from the boys state basketball tournament after a player left the bench during an incident.

Here’s what the school district said in a statement:

“The Dayton Public Schools are dealing with the student who chose to behave in a manner unbecoming of DPS athletes. The Dayton Public School District extends a sincere apology to the referee involved in the incident, as well as the Roger Bacon and Dunbar athletes, referees, coaches, parents and spectators who were not able to play in or watch the event.”

Read more from the Cincinnati Enquirer.