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HAVERHILL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Haverhill High School has canceled the rest of its football season after a video of an alleged hazing incident on the football team surfaced in the community.
In a letter to the Haverhill community, Haverhill Public Schools said some members of the school's coaching staff have been put on administrative leave.
The district said it couldn't elaborate on what exactly was in the video under state and federal law — or what would happen to the students allegedly involved as punishment.
But Mayor James Fiorentini called the incident "disgusting," and said the players involved should be immediately "permanently removed from the team."
"This can never be allowed to occur again," he said. He also said the students involved "should never be allowed to play high school football," in a statement to WBZ NewsRadio.
"Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form. Any such misconduct... will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved," the statement from the administration said.
The district said it's informed Haverhill Police about the incident.
The team is 3-7 on the season and only had one more game on the schedule, against Lowell on Thanksgiving. That game is now forfeited.
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