Texas Football Player Attacks Referee After Being Called For Foul & Ejected, ISD Pulls Team From Playoffs

EDINBURG, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Frightening moments on a Texas football field after a high school player, in full pads, charged and slammed into a referee after being ejected from the game.

It happened on December 3 in Edinburg, about 150 miles southeast of Laredo.

Defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron of Edinburg High School came running from the sideline, at the 40-yard line, after the referee announced the ejection, slamming into the official during the game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) High.

The player had been tossed from the game for committing a personal foul and getting an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for having a heated exchange with the referee after getting flagged for a late hit.

Duron was escorted from the stadium by police officers after blindsiding the ref.

A cart was brought out onto the field, but the referee was able to leave the field under his own power. The Monitor of McAllen reported the referee was evaluated for a concussion by medical personnel at the stadium. He did not return to the game.

Play resumed after a delay, with Edinburg winning 35-21. The win should have advanced the team to the playoffs, but Friday afternoon the Edinburg Consolidated ISD sent a statement to CBS 11 News saying —

"The district has decided to remove the Edinburg High School football team from the playoffs after an unexpected incident involving a student that occurred during a football game on December 3, 2020. We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family. On behalf of the Edinburg CISD Board of Trustees and administration, we apologize to the athletes, staff, and our school community.

We will take the appropriate disciplinary action once we understand the facts and circumstances underlining this incident. The district takes these matters very seriously; however, we cannot comment further on a pending investigation."

Duron was the District 31-6A Defensive Player of the Year last season, and is also the Bobcats' kicker and punter and a star wrestler.

No word on if the teenager will face any criminal charges.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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