US coach allegedly admits telling teens players to attack ref

A Texan football coach has allegedly admitted ordering two high school students to attack a referee during a game.

John Jay High School’s assistant coach Mack Breed is alleged to have told the school’s headmaster he directed the two teenage players to hit referee Robert Watts, after he allegedly used racist language in a September fourth game.

According to evidence obtained by ESPN’s Outside the Lines, principal Ray Harris signed a statement detailing his interactions with Breed after the match.

Mr Harris said Breed admitted he "directed the students to make the referee pay for his racial comments and calls”.

Breed also said he “should have handled the referee himself”.

Earlier this week the students accused of carrying out the attack, Victor Rojas, 15, and Michael Moreno, 17, told Good Morning America they did as Breed said because they trusted him as a “grown-up”.

“A coach pulled me and another player aside and said, and I quote, ‘You need to hit him. You need to hit the ref. He needs to pay the price.’, ” Moreno said.

The referee has been accused of using the N-word and language deemed derogatory to Hispanics, however his attorney has denied he made racist remarks.

Breed is expected to meet the governing body of Texas High School Athletics today to face any sanctions.