Parents, Players Attack Youth Basketball Referee in Georgia

Georgia police are conducting an investigation after a youth basketball referee was attacked by a group of young basketball players over the weekend.

The alleged Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball game took place inside a church athletic facility, according to reports.

The events have since gone viral on the internet and social media as video shows both children and adults punching and kicking the referee.

A recent report from WSB-TV2 in Atlanta outlined the series of events from the basketball game.

Below is an excerpt from the WSB-TV2 report.

The fight broke out during a game on Sunday afternoon. Washington learned the referee suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

The church’s pastor has since released a statement, saying, in part:

“It is truly unfortunate about the turn of events that took place during the basketball game held at our facility this weekend. While we cannot control people, it is our hope and prayer that those who enter our facility will conduct themselves in the best manner.”

Parris Cherry, a former professional basketball player who is now the youth basketball development coach, said he was horrified by what he saw.

“The referee appears outnumbered from the very start,” Cherry said. “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.”

Washington spoke with an AAU representative on Monday, who said it was not a sanctioned AAU game and that the organization had nothing to do with the game or the violence that broke out on the court.

To read the full story from WSBTV.com, click here.