Referee Suspended After Forcing A Black High School Wrestler To Cut His Dreadlocks

A New Jersey high school wrestler was forced to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit his match by a referee. The state’s Division on Civil Rights and state’s athletic association announced on Wednesday the referee has now been suspended for two seasons.

The referee named Alan Maloney will not be able to officiate any matches during the preseason, regular season, postseason or tournaments during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. According to Sports Illustrated, his suspension comes after an eight-month investigation by the DCR and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Additionally, the NJSIAA must now provide implicit bias training to athletic administrators, coaches, and athletic trainers by the end of the 2020-21 season.

“Student-athletes should be able to compete with each other on a level playing field,” said New Jersey Attorney General Grewal in a statement. “Racial discrimination in the enforcement of the rules of any sport is inconsistent with the spirit of fair play. The Division on Civil Rights’ action today makes it less likely that any student-athlete will have to endure discrimination that not only undermines fair competition but also violates our state laws.”

The Associated Press reached out to Maloney’s lawyer who did not respond to a request for comment.

The DCR then issued a “Guidance on Race Discrimination on Hairstyle” to explain “when treating people differently due to their hairstyle may violate the state’s anti-discrimination laws and to help prevent such discrimination in the future.”

December 2018, Andrew Johnson of Buena Regional High School had his dreadlocks covered as he prepped for his 120-pound match. Maloney told wrestler he could either cut his hair of forfeit, so Johnson, eager to compete, went with the last-minute haircut. 

Maloney was then banned from officiating matches involving the Buena Regional School District later that month. However, in March, he filed a legal claim alleging defamation of character and emotional distress.

The article shared information regarding New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, state assemblyman John Armato and the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, who criticized Maloney for his actions that many called racist and discriminatory.

But this isn’t Maloney’s first run-in with discriminatory behaviors. In 2016, Maloney was accused of directing a racial slur at another official who was Black. He was initially suspended for the offense, but after an appeal, the punishment had been overturned.