UPDATED 11-20-18
A Cook County Circuit judge has denied an emergency motion order to hear the Simeon Alumni Association’s case against the Illinois High School Association; however the issue is not dead yet in the courts according to the Simeon lawyers.
Craig Anderson IHSA Executive Director
“The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has declined to comment on the lawsuit related to the Nazareth Academy-Simeon Career Academy IHSA Playoff Football game, as we awaited the opportunity to exonerate the officials who worked the contest in open court. It now appears that no hearing will take place prior to this weekend’s IHSA Football State Championship games. The IHSA has fully investigated this matter and has uncovered no impropriety on the part of the officials assigned to work the game, as well as no influence over the referees by any individual or individuals in attendance. We will have no further comment on this matter for the time being, as we refocus our efforts on recognizing the accomplishments of the players, coaches and communities competing in this weekend’s IHSA Football State Championships. We look forward to providing more clarity on the situation following the resolution of the litigation.”
Sun-Times video of Simeon-Nazareth ending. Alante Brown was ruled down on the 2, no TD. You see the parent/official at the center of the controversy dressed in black on the sideline.
Then the confusion around the final play that Simeon didn’t get off. https://t.co/A9qxiGW45I pic.twitter.com/B0H0b6bu59
— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 19, 2018
(11-20-18) – Did a parent dress up as a referee to help his son’s high school football team win in the Illinois state football playoffs?
A Simeon Alumni Association and parents of Simeon football players sued the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) this past Friday. The lawsuit claims that a Nazareth parent of one of the players, and a licensed IHSA Official Richard Mercardo , dressed as a football official, stood on the sideline and influenced the referees calls in the Roadrunners’ 34-27 quarterfinal win over the Wolverines in the Class 7A state quarterfinals on November 10th.
Facebook Posting – part of lawsuit that was filed
The IHSA has not issued a comment on the game or the pending lawsuit.
Nazareth, won their semifinal game this past weekend beating Bataiva 47-28 and is scheduled to play St. Charles North in the IHSA 7A State Championship game in Champaign this coming Saturday, November 24th at 4pm.
Related:
Stateline Sports Network 