Lang
1/25/23
The group that supplied the officials for Monday night’s City High at Fairfield boys basketball game has released a statement about allegations that one of its referees used racially-charged language with Little Hawk coach Brennan Swayzer.
A statement issued to City High parents, students and staff indicates the incident happened about five minutes into the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game. An official reportedly made a racially-charged comment to Swayzer before ejecting him and a City High fan from the game. A bench-clearing altercation between the two teams with about two minutes left led Little Hawk coaches to remove the team from the court due to what was termed an “unsafe environment”.
The team then received a police escort to the locker room and to the bus back home, and the game was declared final with Fairfield winning 77-63.
The officials who called the game are members of the Iowa City Athletic Officials Association. The Association sent an email to KCJJ on Wednesday saying it was “concerning” that the district would issue a statement accusing the on-court officials of making racially-charged comments without first speaking to the officials or the Association. The Association added that the officials involved in Monday’s game categorically deny making any such statements, and they welcome a full investigation with which they will fully cooperate.
The Association has provided football, basketball, baseball and softball officials for the Iowa City district since the association’s founding in 1970.