A Georgia high school football coach was arrested after a video showed him allegedly punching a player in the stomach.
The coach, whose name has not been released, was recorded during a game concerning the incident.
A football coach at a Georgia high school has been arrested after being seen on video appearing to punch a teenage player in the stomach during a game https://t.co/A4AIsfXkWk
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) August 27, 2023
"The Mays Raiders were playing a game in Douglas County on Saturday at the Eddie S. Henderson Stadium at Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia, when the incident was caught on video," Breitbart News reported.
"In the video, a coach is seen confronting a player near the sidelines during which he delivers a quick rabbit punch to the player’s midsection, causing the student to double over," it added.
Mays (Georgia) coach punches a player on live television #GAPreps https://t.co/PVjQyqCra5
— SBLive Georgia (@SBLiveGA) August 27, 2023
“A lay coach for Mays High School, who is not a classroom instructor, is in police custody after an incident that occurred on the sideline during the school’s game this afternoon against Douglas County High School. Video from the live broadcast of the game appears to show the lay coach physically assaulting a player. The adult will be charged with simple battery and faces administrative charges from the district as well," Atlanta Public Schools released in a statement.
“The safety and well-being of all APS students remains a high priority for the district and all APS employees are held to the highest standard of conduct and professionalism," the statement added.
Reports also noted that the coach was removed from the sidelines by police shortly after the incident.
The player who was allegedly punched was not identified. However, in the video of the incident, he could be seen stumbling backward following the punch.
The incident is one of multiple safety issues at football games as the season begins nationwide, including a shooting at a high school game in Oklahoma that involved four people.
The tragic situation of being injured by a coach has been taken seriously by those involved with the appropriate actions being taken right away.
