A high school football player from Edinburg High School in Texas was not happy after he was ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct for a late hit. Seconds after the ejection was announced, Emmanuel Duron, a senior defensive tackle, ran onto the field and tackled the referee.

He slammed the ref into the ground as two coaches and another player tried to calm him down. They walked him back to the sidelines while the ref remained down on the turf.

While medical staff attended to the ref, who was taken to an ambulance and evaluated for a concussion, police officers escorted Duron off the field.

The school did not provide any information about the incident, and it is unclear if Duron will face charges for attacking the referee. The ref's condition is unknown, but he did manage to walk off the field under his own power.

After the game, Edinburg's coach, J.J. Lejia, told Andrew McCulloch of The Monitor that he could not discuss the situation.

"I can't release any information on that, man. And I apologize for that. I hope you understand," he said.

The game resumed after a brief delay, and Edinburg High School went on to defeat Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School by a score of 35-21.

The next day, the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District announced that Edinburg High School was being removed from the playoffs.

"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," the district said. "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.

Photo: Getty Images

Matt Thomas

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