A highschool star soccer star for one of many prime groups within the nation is accused of grabbing a photographer by the throat throughout a wild Saturday-night brawl in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey.
The incident passed off as gamers from St. Benedict’s and St. Peter’s Prep shook arms following a 1-1 tie. When a shoving match erupted between the 2 groups, St. Benedict’s star ahead Amadou Hann ran from the again of the handshake line to pursue St. Peter’s Prep gamers, as seen in footage printed by NJ.com.
Hann runs off display at one point of the footage. It is then, NJ.com reviews, that he seen Tom Horak, a photographer assigned by NJ Advance Media to cowl the sport.
As Horak and other witnesses told NJ.com, Hann sprinted in the direction of the photographer and demanded he delete footage of the brawl. Hann then allegedly grabbed Horak by the throat, leaving him with abrasions round his neck that have been verified by NJ.com.
One other clip recorded on the sector reveals a participant, believed to be Hann, chasing the photographer and going after his digital camera earlier than being restrained by teammates.
Police weren’t known as as Horak declined medical consideration and instructed NJ.com he is not going to be urgent costs. St. Peter’s Prep athletic director Wealthy Hansen instructed NJ.com the skirmish did not final lengthy sufficient to warrant a name to police, describing the incident as ‘highschool nonsense.’
Amadou Hann (pictured) of St. Benedict’s Prep is accused of attacking a photographer
The 2 New Jersey excessive faculties went at it on Saturday night time in Jersey Metropolis
One other clip recorded on the sector reveals a participant, believed to be Hann, chasing the photographer and going after his digital camera earlier than being restrained by teammates
Hansen additionally stated he thought Hann was attempting to seize Horak’s digital camera.
‘It was sort of surreal,’ Hansen instructed NJ.com. ‘I noticed [Hann] dart down the sidelines to the photographer. He was clearly in a rattled state and the photographer backed up. He was shocked by it. However clearly contact was made. I appeared and I noticed [Hann] seize the photographer. I’ve by no means seen something fairly like that.’
Each day Mail has reached out to Horak for remark.
St. Benedict’s has since supplied an announcement to Each day Mail.
‘St. Benedict’s Prep is conscious of the incident that occurred following Saturday’s soccer match, by which one in every of our gamers is reported to have engaged in an altercation with a member of the media,’ the assertion started. ‘Whereas we’re nonetheless gathering all of the information, we take this matter extraordinarily severely and are treating it with the utmost precedence and care. Our teaching employees, athletic division, and faculty leaders are actively reviewing eyewitness accounts, video footage, and statements from all events concerned.
‘We’re conducting an inside investigation in accordance with our insurance policies to make sure equity, transparency, and accountability. Now we have additionally been involved with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation (NJSIAA) and St. Peter’s Prep.
‘St. Benedict’s Prep stays dedicated to upholding sportsmanship, respect, and security for all individuals and members of the general public. Any additional public remark will happen as soon as all related data has been reviewed, in session with the NJSIAA.’
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation spokesman Mike Cherenson instructed NJ.com that the group is investigating ‘this unlucky incident.’
The 6-foot-2 Hann had 16 targets and 11 assists final season as St. Benedict’s completed 20-0 with the highest rating within the nation. They’d received their first six video games of the 2025 season earlier than Saturday’s draw.
It was Hann who scored the equalizer, serving to St. Benedict’s to keep away from its first loss since 2023.
St. Benedict’s is taken into account one of many premiere soccer faculties within the nation, having produced U.S. legends like Tab Ramos, Gregg Berhalter and Claudio Reyna.
