https://www.si.com/high-school/2018...l-nazareth-simeon-dad-referee-uniform-lawsuit
The link above is SI's story about what happened, but here's the cliff notes version...
Chicago Simeon and Nazareth Academy are playing in the IHSA 7A state quarterfinals two weekends ago... Two really good teams, both having fantastic seasons, it should've been & pretty much was a terrific game, winner advances to the 7A final four... But here's where it got strange...
One of the Nazareth players, his dad is an IHSA football referee... He wasn't working the game and wasn't assigned to it... But he showed up at the game in full referee uniform, met with and conversed with the actual game officials before the game, and stood on the sidelines instructing the officials on calls they were supposed to make and telling the chain gang where to place the 1st down markers... And there was at least one key play he seemed to be involved in, in which the Simeon QB dove for a TD but the play was called back for a reason that was never explained why to anyone... But ppl on the field said it was "the guy in the ref uniform on the sideline" who made the call...
The game also ended strange... Nazareth was ahead 34-27... Simeon had the ball deep in Nazareth's territory looking the tie it up as the clock was running out... But the final play never happened, bc a Nazareth player was fumbling with the ball with one of the actual officials and the clock ran out before they could set the ball... Kinda like MU-KY last yr when the officials didn't stop the clock to set the ball, even tho a player on defense had messed with the ball to keep the official from getting set.
The other crazy part is the referee dad basically admits he was intentionally interfering with the game... He was asked on social media what he was doing... And he responded, "I did what I had to to make sure Nazareth won." and "I didn't make any bad calls. I just made sure the better team won."
Nazareth went on to win this past weekend as well and has advanced to the 7A state title game this coming weekend... Simeon parents & booster club has filed for an injunction that would prevent Nazareth from playing in the title game based on "blatant cheating".
I've gotta tell u, as a former h/s sports reporter, I've heard & seen some crazy things from parents at these games, but showing up in full ref uniform, standing on the sideline and making ref calls even though u aren't working the game is about as crazy as I've heard of...
That's the guy... The chubby guy standing on the sideline in the ref uni, next to the guy in the blue hoodie... Tons of questions... The 1st one being, why didn't the actual officials make him leave the field?... There's no good reason for him to be there...
Kinda doubt they'll make Nazareth not play in the title game on Saturday... But it'll be interesting to see if they'd make them vacate their title if they won.
The link above is SI's story about what happened, but here's the cliff notes version...
Chicago Simeon and Nazareth Academy are playing in the IHSA 7A state quarterfinals two weekends ago... Two really good teams, both having fantastic seasons, it should've been & pretty much was a terrific game, winner advances to the 7A final four... But here's where it got strange...
One of the Nazareth players, his dad is an IHSA football referee... He wasn't working the game and wasn't assigned to it... But he showed up at the game in full referee uniform, met with and conversed with the actual game officials before the game, and stood on the sidelines instructing the officials on calls they were supposed to make and telling the chain gang where to place the 1st down markers... And there was at least one key play he seemed to be involved in, in which the Simeon QB dove for a TD but the play was called back for a reason that was never explained why to anyone... But ppl on the field said it was "the guy in the ref uniform on the sideline" who made the call...
The game also ended strange... Nazareth was ahead 34-27... Simeon had the ball deep in Nazareth's territory looking the tie it up as the clock was running out... But the final play never happened, bc a Nazareth player was fumbling with the ball with one of the actual officials and the clock ran out before they could set the ball... Kinda like MU-KY last yr when the officials didn't stop the clock to set the ball, even tho a player on defense had messed with the ball to keep the official from getting set.
The other crazy part is the referee dad basically admits he was intentionally interfering with the game... He was asked on social media what he was doing... And he responded, "I did what I had to to make sure Nazareth won." and "I didn't make any bad calls. I just made sure the better team won."
Nazareth went on to win this past weekend as well and has advanced to the 7A state title game this coming weekend... Simeon parents & booster club has filed for an injunction that would prevent Nazareth from playing in the title game based on "blatant cheating".
I've gotta tell u, as a former h/s sports reporter, I've heard & seen some crazy things from parents at these games, but showing up in full ref uniform, standing on the sideline and making ref calls even though u aren't working the game is about as crazy as I've heard of...
That's the guy... The chubby guy standing on the sideline in the ref uni, next to the guy in the blue hoodie... Tons of questions... The 1st one being, why didn't the actual officials make him leave the field?... There's no good reason for him to be there...
Kinda doubt they'll make Nazareth not play in the title game on Saturday... But it'll be interesting to see if they'd make them vacate their title if they won.
