Referee barred from officiating after forcing high-school wrestler to cut dreadlocks or forfeit match

A referee who forced a student athlete to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a high-school wrestling match in New Jersey earlier this week has since reportedly been barred from officiating any more matches.

NBC News reported Friday citing school district officials that the referee would be barred from further officiating matches pending an investigation into the incident.{mosads}

The news comes after a video was posted to social media on Thursday showing a Buena High School student getting his dreadlocks cut before a match after the referee reportedly wouldn’t allow the student to wrestle by covering his hair.

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

According to the Courier-Post Journal, the same referee also came under scrutiny in 2016 after using a racial slur when addressing another referee at a social gathering.

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

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association also recommended to chapter officials on Friday that the ref not be assigned to any future events until the incident in question undergoes a thorough review.

The athletic organization also reportedly referred the matter to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.

Shortly after, a spokesman for the state’s attorney general’s office confirmed to NJ.com that the civil rights division opened an investigation into the incident.