An Illinois high school soccer official, Hanah Shehaiber, was assaulted and injured last Friday, October 30, after an upset win, prompting the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to launch a full-blown investigation.
Upset Victory Turns Ugly
This whole mess went down after an IHSA Boys Soccer State Series contest at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn, IL. Shehaiber had just officiated a Class 2A sectional final where the No. 7 Glenbard South pulled off a shocking 3-1 upset victory against the No. 1 Juarez squad from Chicago. According to reports from the Daily Herald, social media video captures the disturbing scene: officials were being escorted off the field when a Juarez supporter launched a full bottle of water at them. That bottle connected, striking Shehaiber right in the back and causing her injury. Seriously, can you believe this garbage?
IHSA Vows Full Investigation, Police Called In
The IHSA wasted no time, announcing on Tuesday, November 3, that they are investigating these “disturbing actions” toward an official. They put out a statement vehemently condemning disrespectful behavior, making it crystal clear that everyone, from school administrators and coaches to fellow fans, needs to step up and stop this kind of abuse at any age or level. Their staff is already on it, talking to the officials who worked the contest, the site manager, and gathering firsthand accounts as part of their investigation. The IHSA intends to work collaboratively with the game officials, competing schools, and local law enforcement, if necessary, to make sure this situation is pursued “to the fullest.” And get this: Shehaiber herself filed a report on the incident with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department. USA TODAY Sports reached out to both Glenbard South and Juarez for comments, but as of this writing, they have received absolutely nothing back.
So, the investigation is underway, and local police are now involved in what started as an upset soccer game. The message from the IHSA is loud and clear: this kind of behavior is unacceptable. It’s a sad day when an official can’t leave the field without getting injured by a fan. We’ll be watching closely to see how this plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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