VICTORVILLE, CA — An entire Inland Empire high school football team and coaching staff were suspended for one week over what school officials said was "unsportsmanlike" conduct displayed during a game Friday against another local team.
Victor Valley Union High School District Superintendent Carl J. Coles and Principal Darius Robinson issued a joint statement on Sunday saying the team would be suspended and disciplinary action would taken after some of the players "behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner towards the opposing team and fans" against their rivals Apple Valley High School."
Officials at the Victorville school said some of the team members displayed "offensive gestures and language" toward the rival team and fans in attendance on Friday.
Apple Valley is a city about 7 miles north of Victorville.
The statement did not go into detail about what the offensive gestures and language included during the game against the Apple Valley Sun Devils but videos posted by Victor Valley News Group showed the Victor Valley High School mascot displaying its middle finger towards a crowd of spectators.
"We expect our student-athletes and coaches to compete with intensity, pride, and passion. Those expectations should not come at the expense of character, sportsmanship, respect, or personal accountability," the statement said.
The joint statement said "This decision reflects the seriousness with which we hold our athletics department accountable."
Victor Valley High School was scheduled to play against Brea Olinda High School at home but that game will not take place due to the suspension and subsequent forfeiture.
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