A student at a Georgia high school was suspended after reporting instances of racism during a soccer game on April 28. He told game officials that racial slurs were being directed toward his team – a claim that both parents and players in attendance supported, the Atlanta Black Star reported.
“It is unbelievable and heartbreaking that your child has to experience this, during one of the most important times of their career, and for it to be tainted by abject racism,” Tia Alvarez-Stith, a soccer player’s parent, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“None of us were prepared for that. It is horrible to have your child be demoralized when they are supposed to be celebrating,” they added.
The complaints led to yellow cards and warnings from referees, the Atlanta Black Star reported. In addition, the player received a red card for allegedly taunting the opposite team’s players and pointing at them after scoring a goal. As a result, he was suspended for the next state championship game on May 2. Students denounced the incident by wearing T-shirts inscribed “No Room for Racism.”
Mike Emery, the athletic director at The Paideia School, asked for the suspension to be lifted, and The Georgia High School Athletic Association denied his request.
“We are following our rules and going by the game report and officials,” Robin Hines, the executive director of the GHSA, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He added that ejections aren’t reviewable, and officials did not hear the slurs despite the reports.
“The officials did not hear anything. It was reported to them, but they did not hear it,” Hines said. “If they had heard it, they would have sanctioned it. All we can go by is what the evidence shows.”
A Paideia School soccer player was suspended from the state championship match after reporting racial slurs from Armuchee High School players. He also allegedly taunted them by running to their bench and pointing after scoring a goal.https://t.co/mpDySiJij2
— Atlanta Black Star (@ATLBlackStar) May 4, 2023
Several parents expressed their shock at the incident and the response given by the GHSA.
“I am extremely disappointed that, in 2023, my son had to experience this level of racism and bigotry. He deserves better,” Sulé Carpenter, a parent of one of the players, wrote in a letter addressed to the school district and Armuchee High School.
“He left the field feeling defeated. Instead of celebrating his victory during the car ride home, we had to have a long discussion about racism. The behavior of your players reflects poorly on your school, its administration, staff, students and their families.”
Armuchee principal Joseph Pethel wrote back, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“I want to start by apologizing for the need of your difficult conversation in place of the excitement of winning and advancing to the state championship game,” he wrote.
“We take these issues seriously and will continue to investigate and make sure that appropriate actions are taken for all involved.”
