New Jersey athletics organization recommends sidelining ref who forced high school wrestler to cut dreadlocks

New Jersey’s governing body for the state’s high school sports reportedly recommended on Friday that a local referee who allegedly forced a student athlete to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a high school wrestling match earlier this week be sidelined from future matches.

NJ.com reported Friday that the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association recommended to chapter officials that referee Alan Maloney not be assigned to any future events until the incident in question undergoes a thorough review. 

{mosads}The athletic organization has reportedly referred the mattered to New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. A spokesman for the state’s attorney general’s office confirmed to NJ.com that the civil rights division has opened an investigation into the incident.

The news comes after a video was posted to social media Thursday showing a Buena High School student, Andrew Johnson, getting his dreadlocks cut during a dual meet in New Jersey on Thursday night.

Maloney reportedly wouldn’t allow Johnson to wrestle by covering his hair.

Shortly after the video went viral, sparking outrage on social media, Maloney’s past came under scrutiny. 

Maloney reportedly used a racial slur in March 2016 at a social gathering with other officials.

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

Maloney had reportedly used the slur in a disagreement with a fellow referee, Preston Hamilton, who is African-American. Hamilton then reportedly slammed Maloney to the ground over the remark.

Maloney, who is white, later told the Courier Post after the incident that he does not remember using the racial epithet that night.

Since footage of the Thursday match has emerged online, many on social media have called for Maloney to face punishment.