Kansas referee taking leave from officiating after viral incident during girls basketball game

EUDORA, Kan. (KCTV) – A viral moment out of Eudora has reached millions on social media over the weekend.

In the third quarter of a high school girls basketball game between Bonner Springs and Eudora on Friday night, an official ejected a Bonner Springs guard.

“She was asking for a foul. And for complaining, she got hit with a technical foul. And for reacting to that, she got hit with a second technical foul,” Eudora Sports Live play-by-play broadcaster Reid McEvoy told KCTV5 about the moment.

As the official walked over to the bench, he fell backward to the floor.

“I think her [the player’s] arm maybe brushes against his chest,” McEvoy added. “And there’s an angle when you can see he looks down at the fact that he’s been touched, and then falls to the floor very theatrically.”

Many online have accused the longtime official, Jeff Freeman, of flopping.

But Freeman, a former principal at Jay Shideler Elementary School in Topeka, gave a statement to KCTV5 on Monday, sharing his side of the story.

“I have a medical condition. I am visiting my neurologist tomorrow, hopefully, and will have additional information after that. Ask my fellow officials, coaches, athletic directors, etc., about me. My reputation is stellar. I do not want any additional punishment for that player, coach, or school. It was not their fault.”

The Kansas State High School Activities Association told KCTV5 on Monday that Freeman will take a break from active officiating. Here’s KSHSAA’s full statement:

After a few minutes on the ground surrounded by medical personnel, he eventually got back up, and proceeded to officiate the rest of the girls game, as well as the ensuing boys game.

“Everybody kind of reluctantly applauded for him,” McEvoy said. “He seemed to be alright in the end.”

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