An Emmaus boys soccer player repeatedly called an opposing team's player a racial slur during last week's game, multiple witnesses said.
The Emmaus senior, who is white, continued to hurl the slur at Whitehall junior Javaughn Hussett, who is black, even after being confronted by his coach, John Cari, and the opposing team's players, according to Hussett's mother, Tanya, and teammate Anthony Kleckner.
Kleckner said other Emmaus players directed racial digs at Hussett, though not as loudly or as often as their teammate. A game referee was in earshot the first time the boy called Hussett the slur, but did not discipline him, he said Wednesday.
It's the second time this month that two Eastern Pennsylvania Conference boys soccer teams have been caught up in a controversy over remarks used during a game. Two Northampton Area coaches resigned Tuesday after some of their players allegedly taunted a black Nazareth player from West Africa — a region in the midst of an Ebola epidemic — with references to the deadly virus and his race during the teams' Oct. 9 game. …show more content…
He declined to say which or how many players were involved or discuss why the coaches stepped down.
Reached by phone Wednesday, Cari declined to discuss what happened at the Emmaus-Whitehall game on Oct. 7 and referred questions to Emmaus Principal David Piperato, who did not return calls for comment Wednesday and Thursday.
Emmaus' athletic director Dennis Ramella and East Penn School District Superintendent J. Michael Schilder did not return calls for comment
The Emmaus senior, who is white, continued to hurl the slur at Whitehall junior Javaughn Hussett, who is black, even after being confronted by his coach, John Cari, and the opposing team's players, according to Hussett's mother, Tanya, and teammate Anthony Kleckner.
Kleckner said other Emmaus players directed racial digs at Hussett, though not as loudly or as often as their teammate. A game referee was in earshot the first time the boy called Hussett the slur, but did not discipline him, he said Wednesday.
It's the second time this month that two Eastern Pennsylvania Conference boys soccer teams have been caught up in a controversy over remarks used during a game. Two Northampton Area coaches resigned Tuesday after some of their players allegedly taunted a black Nazareth player from West Africa — a region in the midst of an Ebola epidemic — with references to the deadly virus and his race during the teams' Oct. 9 game. …show more content…
He declined to say which or how many players were involved or discuss why the coaches stepped down.
Reached by phone Wednesday, Cari declined to discuss what happened at the Emmaus-Whitehall game on Oct. 7 and referred questions to Emmaus Principal David Piperato, who did not return calls for comment Wednesday and Thursday.
Emmaus' athletic director Dennis Ramella and East Penn School District Superintendent J. Michael Schilder did not return calls for comment