High school officials are increasingly forced to confront unruly fans, as was the case a football game this past weekend in Pennsylvania.
The entire student section was kicked out of a game at McKeesport Area High School for repeatedly shouting taunts and obscenities after being told to stop.
Students from Gateway High School, the opposing team, were wearing surgical masks and white doctor’s outfits Friday night, and shouting “Diseaseport” at their rivals, according to McKeesport superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. Gateway cheerleaders were also wearing the masks.
Holtzman said more than 100 students were yelling profanities, and he asked them to stop. When the chanting continued, he asked police to keep an eye on the section.
“Unfortunately, last night their student section came with limited supervision, and they were quite belligerent even coming into the game,” Holtzman told the WPXI News 11. “I didn’t want the issue to become a big issue that I couldn’t control.”
Gateway athletic director Chuck Reilly said that his students’ behavior was not as bad as the home officials described.
“I can unequivocally say it was not the whole section, because I would have heard it,” Reilly told Trib Live.
Gateway School District said it will address the issue with students to improve behavior at future games.
“Absolutely we will address the behavior of our students,” he said. “My wish is that McKeespoort will address the behavior of their students, which was as bad if not worse as our fans were.”
