A body blow by a Texas referee has shaken up the sport and left many wondering what will happen next.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
In sports, one of the most controversial calls a referee can make is a personal foul. A personal foul is any type of illegal contact committed by a player against an opponent. This can include topics such as holding, tripping, kicking, pushing, and striking with elbows or fists. Usually, personal fouls are penalized by awarding the opposing team free throws or possession of the ball.
One particularly controversial call occurred during a college basketball game between Texas Tech and Northern Colorado on December 4, 2017. During the game, Texas Tech’s Matt Mooney was fouled by Northern Colorado’s Jordan Davis while driving to the basket. The referees called a flagrant 1 foul on Davis, which resulted in Mooney making two free throws and Northern Colorado being assessed a technical foul.
However, after reviewing the play, the officials determined that Davis had not committed a flagrant foul and instead only gave him a personal foul. This decision infuriated Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard, who argued with the referees for several minutes before being ejected from the game.
While this call did not directly result in any points being scored, it was still a very important moment in the game. The fact that Coach Beard was so upset about the call indicates that he felt it was unfair to his team and could have potentially had a major impact on the outcome of the game. This type of call is always going to be controversial because it is so difficult to judge whether or not contact was actually made with intent to harm the other player. In this particular instance, it seems like the officials made the correct call based on their review of the play.
The Incident
The incident occurred during a junior varsity game between John Jay High School and Marble Falls High School. As seen in the video, which has been widely circulated on social media, two John Jay players blindside Austin referee Robert Watts from behind, knocking him to the ground.
The Aftermath
The aftermath of the body blow delivered by a Texas referee to a high school football player has been both swift and severe.
The official, Wesley Bryan, has been fired from his role as a referee with the Texas Association of Sports Officials. His actions during a game between John Jay High School and Marble Falls High School on Friday – when he delivered a punch to the face of Jay’s Michael Moreno – were “unprofessional and unacceptable,” the association said in a statement.
Bryan was also removed from his post as vice president of the Austin Football Officials Association.
Jay coach Mack Breed, who was suspended for two games after admitting he ordered Moreno and another player to target Marble Falls players during the game, will not be allowed to return to his post as head coach, according to Edna ISD superintendent Mark Estrada. Estrada said a decision on whether Breed will keep his job as a teacher at Jay has not yet been made.
The Impact
The sport of mixed martial arts was dealt a serious blow this week when a Texas referee was caught on camera delivering a vicious body blow to a fallen fighter. The referee, who has not been identified, is seen in the video striking the fighter, who is lying on his back and appears to be helpless, with a hard right hand to the ribs.
The fighter, who also has not been identified, was reportedly knocked out by the blow and had to be taken to the hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The incident has caused a stir in the MMA community, with many people calling for the referee to be banned from officiating future fights. Some have even suggested that the sport itself is inherently dangerous and should be banned.
It remains to be seen what effect this incident will have on the sport of mixed martial arts, but it is certainly a black eye for a burgeoning industry that is working hard to gain mainstream acceptance.
