A high school basketball in Corona, California game, saw a referee and a coach get into a heated exchange that ended with the referee punching the coach.
The game featured Oak Hills and Arlington at Santiago High School last Saturday. The incident was caught on camera by an attendee.
In the video, which TMZ obtained, the referee approaches the coach. The coach has his hands around his waist. Just seconds after the two meet, the referee hits the coach with a left hook, sending him to the floor. But the referee didn't stop there—he proceeded to throw even more punches as the coach was on the ground as if it was a UFC fight, waiting for the fight to be called.
Per TMZ, Brandon Knapper, the referee, walked up to the head coach of Oak Hills, Rob Alexander. Alexander was upset with a call, and words were flying before what ultimately occurred.
Alexander was taken to a hospital and plans on pressing charges. Knapper turned himself into the police. He was charged with Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Assault By Means Likely To Produce Great Bodily Injury.
The Hesperia Unified School District released a statement.
"The District is thankful for the swift and decisive action taken by the event promoters and local law enforcement. We are also happy to report that Coach Alexander is in good spirits and looking forward to returning to coaching and teaching as soon as possible. We have the utmost confidence that law enforcement, CIF, and Oak Hills High School, with the support of the District, will investigate the incident thoroughly and handle it appropriately."
Knapper was assigned $25,000 bail and was released on Wednesday. He'll appear in court on Friday, November 3.
