Caught on video: Texas high school football player jailed for assault after body slam of referee
UPDATE: 18-year-old Edinburg High School senior linebacker Emmanuel Duron was arrested Friday on an assault charge for the body slam of a referee captured on video during a game the night before, according to his hometown newspaper.
A judge set Duron's bond at $10,000, which had not been posted as of Friday afternoon. Jail booking records indicate Duron is 5'11 and 225 pounds.
In addition, his team has forfeited its football playoff spot as a result of the incident, the Houston Chronicle reported on Friday.
The Texas Association of Sports Officials called the incident a "vicious and deliberate assault” on one of their officials.
“We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family,” the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District said in a statement Friday.
The Edinburg Police Department said school district police handled the arrest because the incident occurred on campus.
ORIGINAL REPORT: EDINBURG, Texas -- 2020 has made us realize how much we take for granted the great game of football.
The atmosphere, the competition, and through it all the sportsmanship.
But Thursday night at a high school game in the Rio Grande Valley, all of that was put to disgrace as Edinburg took on Pharr-San Juan-Alamo.
Edinburg's Emmanuel Duron was ejected by the officials for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
But after the ejection, Duron charges the field in a rage and body slams the head referee to the turf. He had to be restrained by a coach.
The referee was down on the field for several minutes before getting up on his own power.
Duron would leave the stadium escorted by police.
Not a good look for Texas high school football.
