Tag: Emmanuel Duron

Former Texas high school football player who once tackled referee avoids jail time

A former Texas high school football player who once hit a referee avoids jail time.

A former Texas high school football player who once tackled a referee will not be heading to jail.

Emmanuel Duron, now 22 years old, pleaded no contest to a series of charges stemming from an incident that took place on Dec. 3, 2020. According to CBS 4 in Rio Grande Valley, Duron received a “deferred adjudication, and will be ordered to serve one year of community supervision. During that time period, he is required to avoid places and people of harmful character, pay a fine and maintain employment, among other conditions.”

A senior defensive lineman at Edinburg High School (Edinburg, Texas) at the time of the incident, Duron was thrown out of a game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (San Juan, Texas) for unsportsmanlike conduct.

It was after that decision from referee Alfredo Gracia that Duron ran across the field at full steam. He proceeded to hit Gracia so hard that the referee immediately went to the turf.

Gracia filed a lawsuit two years later against the Rio Grande Texas Association of Sports Officials and the Southwest Officials Association. In the lawsuit, he cites “embarrassment, pain, and ongoing psychological and physical damage.”

Duron has other legal programs stemming from a February arrest for a separate alleged assault.

Texas football player banned from state high school sports after attacking referee

The football player that attacked a referee after being ejected from a game has been suspended from all future athletic activities in Texas.

Emmanuel Duron, the football player that attacked a referee after being ejected from a game earlier this month, has been suspended from all future athletic activities in Texas.

The Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) voted unanimously Monday to ban Duron from UIL-sanctioned activities through the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year, according to the Monitor in McAllen. Duron, who was an all-state wrestler as a junior, will not be able to participate in competition this winter.

Edinburg’s athletic programs were also punished for the incident. Edinburg football coach JJ Leija was placed on one year’s probation for the 2021-22 academic year, while all of the school’s athletic programs will be on probation through the 2022-23 academic year.

Duron was arrested and charged with assault after running onto the field and throwing a referee to the ground after he was ejected from Edinburg’s first-round playoff matchup on Dec. 3. Duron was originally whistled for roughing the passer and then flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for reportedly saying something to the official. He was then escorted back to the sideline before running back onto the field and hitting the referee after his ejection was announced.

“I’d like to say that I’m sorry for what happened to my coaches, my family and to the UIL,” Duron said Monday, per the Monitor.

Edinburg was removed from the playoffs following the incident.

“We as a district understand that it is a very unfortunate incident for the team, as the students and coaching staff worked very hard throughout the year for this season, but it is important that our district abides by the rules and regulations set forth by the UIL,” Edinburg CISD interim superintendent Gilbert Garza said.

“Our district’s leadership agrees with the committee also that such incidents are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Moving forward, our district is committed to developing and implementing a plan of action to proactively deter any future misconduct by any future student-athlete.”

RELATED: HS football player who clobbered referee hit with severe penalty

Texas prep player who clobbered official, coach hit with severe penalties

A Texas HS player who hit an official and his coach have received more penalties

The Texas high school player who was ejected from a game and went back on the field and hit an official has received more stern penalties. As has his coach.

Per The Monitor: 

During an at-times tense executive committee hearing Monday morning, the University Interscholastic League voted unanimously to levy additional penalties and punishments on Edinburg High School, Bobcats head football coach JJ Leija and defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron after an incident Dec. 3 when Duron made “inappropriate physical contact with an official,” after being ejected from a District 31-6A zone play-in game against the PSJA High Bears.

The end result will see Duron suspended from all UIL activities for the rest of his senior academic year.

Duron already faces assault charges from the incident, which saw him knock longtime official Fred Gracia to the field after the player was hit with a personal foul and subsequently ejected. The 18-year-old, was charged with class A assault during an arraignment and booked into Hidalgo County jail before posting a $10,000 surety bond.

His coach, JJ Leija, received a one-year probation period beginning at the start of the 2021-22 academic year. Additionally, Edinburg High’s athletic programs will go on a probationary period that will begin immediately and conclude at the end of the 2022-23 school year.

“I’d like to say that I’m sorry for what happened to my coaches, my family and to the UIL,” Duron said Monday.

This was not the first incident for Duron.

In a soccer match against Edinburg Vela during the 2019-20 academic year, Duron slapped a red card out of an official’s hand and shoved himself his chest with both hands before being removed from the field by coaches.

Duron was suspended from participating in soccer for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Texas school board issues apology to ref flattened by player

Fred Gracia and his family have received an apology from a state school board

The family of Fred Gracia, the referee who was knocked down by Edinburg High School football player Emmanuel Duron in a game Thursday, has received an apology from the district school board.

“The district has decided to remove the Edinburg High School football team from the playoffs after an unexpected incident involving a student that occurred during a football game on December 3, 2020. We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family. On behalf of the Edinburg CISD Board of Trustees and administration, we apologize to the athletes, staff, and our school community,” the Edinburg district said in a written statement.

“We will take the appropriate disciplinary action once we understand the facts and circumstances underlining this incident. The district takes these matters very seriously; however, we cannot comment further on a pending investigation.”

Gracia’s daughter tweeted the 59-year-old, who has been officiating for 27 years, is “doin’ alright.”

Duron, 18, was charged with a class A assault during an arraignment Friday at the Edinburg Municipal Court. He was released in the evening after a cash surety bond of $10,000 was posted through O. Castaneda Bail Bonds.

Meanwhile, not understanding that there are consequences to actions, players from the team tried to change the decision for Edinburg to forfeit the playoff berth it would have earned.

That bid was refuted.

“The UIL (University Interscholastic League) has made it clear to Interim Superintendent Gilbert Garza Jr. that UIL would have removed the football team from the playoffs if the district did not withdraw the team,” the Edinburg CISD statement said. “Under Texas law and district policy, the interim superintendent was authorized to move forward with the decision. Mr. Garza has confirmed this after consulting with the district’s legal counsel.”

Texas prep player who attacked referee in jail after assault charge

Texas prep player Emmanuel Duron has been charged with assault for his attack on a referee in a HS prep game

Emmanuel Duron of Edinboro (TX) High School has been charged with assault for his attack on official Fred Garcia during a football game on Thursday.

Per The Monitor, a McAllen (TX) newspaper:

Emmanuel Duron, 18, was charged with class A assault around 11 a.m. Friday morning during an arraignment at the Edinburg Municipal Court.

A cash surety bond of $10,000 has been set for the football player.

Duron is currently being held in county jail until he makes bond.

The 59-year-old Garcia, a 27-year veteran referee with the Texas Association of Sports Officials, was evaluated in an on-site ambulance for concussion symptoms and a shoulder injury.

Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP

In other news, school district officials decided Friday to remove Edinburg from the Class 6A state playoffs after they had clinched a postseason berth by beating PSJA 35-21.

Watch: Texas HS football player slams ref after ejection, gets police escort

Emmanuel Duron was ejected from a HS game, body-slammed an official and needed a police escort from the stadium

Emmanuel Duron is a high school football player and wrestler at Edinburg, a South Texas High School. On Thursday, he went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Duron was ejected from a game against Pharr-San-Juan Alamo for a late hit and unsportsmanlike penalty.

He then ran back onto the field and slammed the official. Duron was escorted out of Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg by Edinburg PD officers while the official was evaluated in an ambulance for concussion symptoms.

The Monitor, a McCallen, TX newspaper, with the scary details:

…, Duron, the team’s star defender, was flagged on a play early during the second quarter after he shoved an opposing offensive lineman to the ground and attempted to make a tackle on PSJA High freshman quarterback Jaime Lopez after the whistle had blown the play dead.

Duron and referee Fred Garcia exchanged words after the play was over, and Garcia ejected Duron from the contest after back-to-back unsportsmanlike penalties on the same play.

Duron, who was leading the Bobcats in tackles (102) and sacks (eight) through four games, then charged onto the field as teammates raced after him in an attempt to hold him back. The senior defensive end collided with Garcia, checking him chest-to-chest at full speed and sending him to the turf.

Duron was escorted out from the stadium by a team of four Edinburg police officers who were working security for the game. He was not handcuffed, but was removed from the premises and did not return.

Garcia, 58, was helped off the field after a cart was driven onto the turf so medical personnel could assess the situation. He was taken to an ambulance outside of the stadium gates, where he was medically evaluated for a potential shoulder injury and concussion-like symptoms.

Garcia has been with the Texas Association of Sports Officials for 27 years.

Duron was suspended for the remainder of the 2019-20 soccer season after a similar incident occurred during a match on the pitch last year against crosstown rival Edinburg Vela.

Duron is a junior and was named The Monitor’s All-Area Boys Wrestler of the Year award in early 2020. He finished with a 44-8 record, going 4-2 at the state tournament.