From the moment I first saw the video of a pair of high school players blindsiding a game official, I suspected that the players were told to do what they did by a coach.
They now claim that they were.
Appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America, Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas said that assistant coach Mack Breed provided the sweep-the-leg-style directive.
“You put your trust into this grown-up, this guardian, your coach, who’s been there for me. . . . I trust him. I did what I was told,” Moreno said.
The official alleged missed calls and used racial slurs during the game. The official, Robert Watts, has denied using racial slurs through his lawyer.
“You need to hit the ref. He needs to pay the price,” Breed said, according to Moreno.
Breed is on paid leave, and he has not publicly commented on the situation.
No one has been arrested or charged with a crime, but if Moreno and Rojas are telling the truth, Breed should be prosecuted. Football players follow orders, if their coach issued an order to hit Watts, the coach should face the consequences.