Citing privacy concerns, Defense Department schools officials are refusing to say what disciplinary action was meted out to high school football players involved in a post-game dust-up last week at RAF Lakenheath, England.
Earlier this week, DODDS-Europe chief of staff Sue Gurley said that about a dozen players from Kaiserslautern and Lakenheath high schools could face disciplinary action. But in an e-mail sent Thursday to Stripes, Gurley said she could not divulge the exact number of students or how they were disciplined.
“The investigation of this incident by school administrators will result in appropriate disciplinary actions for those involved,” Gurley said in the e-mail. “Privacy concerns and polices do not allow us to discuss details of the investigation, findings of the investigation, or specific actions taken as a result of the investigation.
“As a matter of policy, DODDS does not comment on specific details or information that would violate the privacy and due process rights of our students.”
Gurley also refused to release the information without the students’ names.
Gurley said earlier this week that punishments could range from missing a game in the next sport the students play, not lettering due to unsportsmanlike conduct, or suspension.
The fight happened after Lakenheath’s 13-8 victory over the visiting Kaiserslautern team as both sides walked through the post-game handshake.
The fracas lasted a few minutes as teachers and fans in the stands worked to separate the two sides, according to Lakenheath players involved. The fight appears to have been the culmination of a game peppered with trash talk and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Some Kaiserslautern students also will face discipline for spray painting the haunted trail attraction at nearby RAF Mildenhall, Gurley said.
No players were injured in the fracas, Gurley said earlier this week.
When recounting the fight earlier this week, Lakenheath players said they regretted the incident and the taint it put on a nice win for the Lancers.
“It overshadowed our victory,” junior Eric Douglas said.
