BETHEL PARK, Pa. — Bethel Park Junior Football
[ issued a statement on its Facebook page ]
Friday to address claims that a racial slur was overheard during a game against Woodland Hills youth football team after some Woodland Hills players knelt for the national anthem.
PREVIOUS STORY: Tensions escalate at youth football game after some players kneel during national anthem
[ Woodland Hills head coach Marcus Burkley Sr. took to Facebook over the weekend ]
after the game, telling Channel 11 on Tuesday that tensions seemed to begin to rise after some of his players knelt during the playing of the national anthem.
"It seemed like everything started once the national anthem started. Two or three of my players took a knee,” he said. “Once they took a knee, you see cameras and people taking pictures. And out of nowhere you hear, ‘If the little N-word want to take a knee, they shouldn't be able to play."
Burkley said the comment came from the stands. He said his 12- and 13-year-old players then heard it on the field.
"Players told me, they say, ‘Coach, they're calling us the N-word,’” Burkley said.
The coach said tensions escalated from there. He said his players’ parents at one point tried to get food at the concession stand and were turned away.
"They just said, ‘We're not serving you Woodland Hills people. This is for Bethel fans. It's our senior day.’ But with all that going on, it seemed like another attack,” Burkley said.
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Authorities were called to the game, which Woodland Hills won, to keep the peace.
After an investigation into Burkley’s claims, Bethel Park Junior Football said no one could corroborate the accusations.
Below is Bethel Park Junior Football’s full statement, which was posted on Facebook: