High school football coach fired after players used antisemitic terms as play calls

The players allegedly used ‘Auschwitz,’ ‘rabbi’ and ‘dreidel’ for play calls

The school is investigating the matter after the players used anti-semitic language on field (Duxbury High School, Duxbury, Massachusetts, USA)

A Massachusetts high school football coach has been fired after his team allegedly used antisemitic language during a recent game, the school confirmed.

Dave Maimaron of Duxbury High School was removed on Wednesday, after players from a rival school informed their coaches that the Duxbury team allegedly used antisemitic terms, when the two teams met for a game on March 12, the Boston Herald reported.

The school did not disclose what the players said, but a few of the words audible to others included "rabbi,” “dreidel” and “Auschwitz” — the Jewish concentration and extermination camp used by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. A rabbi is a Jewish priest and dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Superintendent John Antonucci confirmed in a statement that antisemitic language had been used on the field and that the play-call system was immediately stopped. 

“It was reported, and ultimately confirmed, that our team used highly offensive language on the field as part of a play-call system designed to make on-field adjustments,” the statement read. 

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“It is important to note that while the players clearly demonstrated poor judgment, the responsibility for this incident also lies with the adults overseeing the programme,” he said and called it a “systemic failure.”

“I am outraged, disappointed and profoundly saddened that we find ourselves here,” Duxbury School Committee Chair Kellie Bresnehan was quoted by the Boston Herald as saying.

“The fact that members of our school community used such offensive language, including antisemitic language, is horrifying and disappointing,” the school’s statement read.

“We are collaborating with the anti-defamation league regarding the seriousness of the allegations, and on our short-term and long-term response.”

Mr Maimaron, the head coach at Duxbury since 2005, has also been placed on paid administrative leave, the Boston Herald said, as the school investigates the matter further.