By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

An ugly incident at a Chapel Hill High-East Chapel Hill High men’s soccer game early this month resulted in the school district banning a referee from working at district games.

According to the Faith Action International House newsletter, fans heckled one of the soccer players – an immigrant from El Salvador – by shouting “Give him a green card” every time he had possession of the ball. In addition, according to the newsletter, the referee called the player out of bounds several times when he was not.

The player’s mother spoke with the referee about his calls, and he responded that she “should go back to Mexico and take all those Hispanics with you,” and then penalized her with a yellow card, according to the newsletter.

Mark Sills, executive director of Faith Action International House, said he had spoken with someone who was in the stands during the game but wished to remain anonymous.
Stephanie Knott, assistant superintendent for community relations for Chapel Hill-Carrboro  City Schools, confirmed that the referee will no longer work in the school district.

According to Knott, Chapel Hill High Principal Jacqueline Ellis investigated the incident, but was unable to find enough information.