'Dirtiest Football Play' Prompted By Racial Slur, Athlete Says

Fritz Moncion, the 18-year-old Linden High School football player subject to nationwide scrutiny over a “dirty play” caught on tape, claims his opponent was cheating and using racial slurs at last Friday’s game against Immaculata High School, reports say.

The high school senior and former defensive end, has been accused of ripping the helmet off an Immaculata offensive lineman’s head during a play and then striking him across the head with it before swinging the helmet several yards across the field.

The incident has since received over 2 million views via a viral youtube video shot during last Friday’s game at the Linden’s Tiger Stadium.

Family, friends, and activists held a press conference outside the Linden school board office on Thursday in response to the decision to kick Moncion off the high school’s football team.

Activist and family friend Dondi Givens said Moncion complained to the referee at last Friday’s game that the Immaculata lineman was driving into Moncion head first with his helmet, a.k.a “spearing.” Moncion’s mother Anita McDuffy said her son was also called “the N-word” repeatedly throughout the game, but it was the spearing that upset him, not the racial slurs, according to nj.com.

Salaam Ismial, director of the Elizabeth-based United Youth Council, also said Moncion did not intent to hit his opponent in the head with the helmet. According to Ismial, Moncion wrapped his hands around his opponent’s helmet to prevent himself from being speared, the helmet got caught in Moncion’s hands, and the Immaculata player accidentally got hit in the head when the helmet was swung by Moncion.

“That’s what happened,” Ismial said according to My Central Jersey. “He had no intention of wanting to cause brutal harm to this individual. He threw the helmet and accidentally hit this kid in the head, and it was no more than that. I’m not trying to belittle or make it small, but it was an accident, and I think it should be handled on the field.”

Moncion’s mother said her son’s original punishment of a 10-day suspension and removal from the team for two days was increased to his suspension from the team entirely after the story became national news.

“He really is apologetic about this. He said his hand got stuck in the helmet. I believe in my child,” McDuffy said at the press conference. “If it was so bad, which it was a bad incident, they should have taken him out of the game. They allowed him to play the third and fourth quarter. He apologized to the student.”

Linden Superintendent Danny Robertozzi said his decision to kick Moncion off the team is final, according to Fox News.

Below is the full press release issued by Superintendent Robertozzi on Wednesday, Sept. 16:

The Linden Public School District is extremely disheartened by the incident at the Varsity Football Game between Linden and Immaculata High Schools on Friday, September 11, 2015.

The Board of Education is appalled by the conduct of this student athlete. His action on the field is contrary to the type of sportsmanship Linden requires from its student athletes. The brutal action taken by this young man is simply unacceptable and will not be condoned.

Accordingly, the Board is pursuing the severest disciplinary measures permitted under law and has removed this student from the football team.In addition to the stern action to be taken against this student, the Board shall stress with all of its student athletes that such egregious conduct will not be tolerated and that all athletes must adhere to the highest level of proper sportsmanship that has always been the hallmark of Linden sports.While disciplinary consequences have been imposed against this student, the Board cannot lawfully comment on the specific disciplinary action being taken.

As a public school student, this young man is entitled to certain due process and confidentiality rights that prevent the Board from commenting more specifically on the actions being taken. Accordingly, the Board asks that the Public respect the legal restraints that limit the Board’s ability to more fully discuss this incident.

Danny Robertozzi, Ed. D.

Superintendent