WOODHAVEN, Mich. – A previous decision by the Downriver Junior Football League was upheld Wednesday night ending a Woodhaven youth football team's season due to an incident at a game.
The executive board upheld the decision after more than an hour behind closed doors.
The Woodhaven Warriors have been trapped in the center of a major controversy after an incident at a game and team leaders considered pulling the plug on the program.
Parents are upset because they believe the children shouldn't be punished over an incident that had nothing to do with them.
The decision stems from a war of words between parents from the Warriors and another team. The Downriver Junior Football League board then decided the Warrior freshman, JV and varsity teams wouldn't get to go to the playoffs, though both the freshman and varsity teams qualified.
An email sent by one of the coaches to parents regarding the incident says the following in part:
"Parents....our coaches wives and our kids moms were cussed, spit on, and called distasteful racial obscenities which I care not to repeat, and from these events the [parents from the other team] embellished what actually happened (spun the story of what actually took place), submitted complaints to the league, which in turn started an investigation by the board. As a result, our executive committee, and those that first hand witnessed the event were requested to go before the board...so as you form your opinions, know that the distancing action that we as a program have chosen to take, is in no way out of spite or arrogance, but instead out of respect for those offended, and for the dignity of us standing up for what is right and decent. It is absolutely on behalf of your kids, our coaches, and you, our parents."
The decision also determined if the cheerleaders would get to compete in the postseason.
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