Officials at the Virginia High School League have responded to a video featuring the Phoebus High School football team using a racial slur in their huddle — the league imposed sanctions on the school’s football program.
“Phoebus has received a one-year warning for its football program which is a serious infraction,” Mike McCall, a spokesman for the league, said Tuesday. “Any other serious infraction within its football program during the year will result in a ban from the playoffs.”
The team in Hampton came under fire after a video surfaced on social media Monday showing the players using the N-word in their chant during a game.
The act, according to the league’s handbook has been substantiated as “inexcusable, unethical or unsportsmanlike.”
The warning to Phoebus’ football program serves as an official notice, reads the handbook, and “is a matter of record and that such an occurrence must not be repeated.”
Hampton City School District officials recently announced the school’s varsity football team has advanced to the VHSL quarterfinal playoffs but outside of being banned, the team could also be required to forfeit any championships earned should another “serious infraction” occur during the one-year probation period.
District officials immediately responded to the video Monday and said, “appropriate actions are being taken per the division’s Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.”
“To emphasize what is expected of our students as they represent Phoebus High School, Hampton City Schools, and the community, the football coaching staff, and Phoebus High School administration are meeting with the football team and their parents to reinforce the expectations of a student athlete.”
Pheobus High School’s varsity football team is 9-1 for the season and is set to face off against Tabb High School, 5-5, in the 3A region football quarterfinal at Darling Stadium Friday.