Football Players Who Attacked Referee Claim Coach Told Them To Do It (Video)
The two Texas high school football players who intentionally attacked a referee during a game two weeks ago say it wasn't their idea to do so.
John Jay High School's Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas, who were suspended from school and the football team as a result of their actions, recently joined the set of "Good Morning America" and said an assistant coach told them to attack that referee.
Speaking with George Stephanopoulos, Moreno said,
You put your trust into this grown-up, this guardian, your coach, who's been there for me.... I trust him... I just did what I was told.
Moreno alleges one of his coaches, Mack Breed, pulled him aside and commanded,
You need to hit the ref. He needs to pay the price.
The players maintain they attacked the ref because he missed calls and made racial slurs during the game.
Through his attorney, the official denied making racial slurs.
The pair appeared remorseful, though. When asked what he would say to the ref now, Rojas said,
I would apologize for the mistake that I made.
Moreno added,
Everyone sees me as this thug or this gangster, I did this because I'm a bad guy… That's not who I am.
Several cases of violence have occurred at high school football programs across the country, and until we see accountability and discipline, this trend will continue.
Only time will tell what will happen to these two boys and the assistant coach.
Citations: Football Players Who Blindsided Ref Say They Were Following Coach's Orders (ABC News)