Coaches for the Northampton Area High School boys’ soccer team were so offended by their players’ chanting “Ebola” at a visiting West African player that they resigned on Wednesday (October 15). And now it’s possible the in Pennsylvania students who did the taunting could be seriously disciplined as well.
The incident in a suburb of northern Philadelphia happened last week when the Konkrete Kids of Northampton played the Nazareth Blue Eagles, whose star player is 16-year-old Ibraham Tounkara, a native of Guinea, one of the West African nations affected by the Ebola crisis. West Africa has been the focal point of a deadly Ebola virus outbreak that has claimed more than 4,000 lives to date and threatens to infect nearly 10,000 more per week if left unchecked.
According to a report from that night on Lehigh Valley Live, the “ugly … brutal” game at Andrew Leh Stadium included plenty of shoving and three yellow cards. But, with 4:15 left, Tounkara was given a red card for violent conduct and had to be restrained by his fellow players after appearing “incensed” at something that happened on the previous play.
A few days later, The Morning Call newspaper revealed that several Northampton players had taunted Tounkara with “Ebola!” chants and other racial slurs. Tounkara’s custodian, Edward Bachert, said he was out of earshot but was told by the teen, who is black, and others about racial taunting that reportedly also included hopes that Tounkara would contract Ebola.
A girl who identified herself as Tounkara’s sister tweeted about the incident on the night of the game.
Tounkara came to the U.S. with his siblings three years ago from Guinea and Bachert said he is constantly concerned about the health of his parents, who still live in his home village. Upset by the taunts, Tounkara charged at a Northampton player as the game was wrapping up and was ejected from the match. Bachert said when the teen got home he cried at the kitchen table over the incident.
“He was upset on the field, he was upset when I saw him after the game, he was upset when he came home,” Bachert said.
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Even though Bachert doesn’t think the Northampton players knew Tounkara had moved to the U.S. from Africa or that his parents still live in Guinea, he thought the teens should be held accountable for their actions. “This doesn’t belong in society,” he said. “It certainly doesn’t belong in the field.”
On Wednesday, The Morning Call reported that in addition to the Northampton head and assistant coaches submitting their resignations on Tuesday, the students could face additional, unspecified discipline. “The administration has conducted a thorough investigation throughout the entire day and appropriate discipline will be dispensed to any students who violated the code of conduct,” said Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik, citing student confidentiality as the reason he could not specify the potential sanctions.
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“I am glad Nazareth and Northampton took this incident very seriously and did a very thorough investigation,” Bachert said after Wednesday’s announcement. “I think kids nowadays have to realize that their words can cause a lot of damage and you’ve got to think before you speak and be careful with what words you choose.”
Nazareth soccer players and student have rallied behind Tounkara, using social media to promote a $2 #ENDRACISM wristband.
For more on racial bias and how to take action, visit Look Different.
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