Referee banned after singling out 10-year-old girl’s braids

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – A referee is banned from officiating children’s basketball games in a Virginia city after he singled out a girl who was wearing a typical African American hairstyle.

WAVY-TV reported Tuesday that the 10-year-old wore braids with blue weave during a basketball game in Chesapeake over the weekend.

Erica Guerrier, who coaches her daughter’s team, says the ref pointed to the girl’s hair and said, mistakenly, that hair weaves are against the rules. Guerrier says the referee made an unnecessary spectacle of her daughter.

Virginia High School League Executive Director Billy Haun says the referee should not have raised his concern publicly.

Hampton Roads Basketball Association commissioner Rick Ennis says the incident is under investigation and the referee won’t be working future games in Chesapeake.