PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Numerous parents, coaches and referees are banned from Pike County Schools events for the rest of the school year after an ugly middle school “basketbrawl” last week.

Coaches and referees exchanged heated words at an eighth-grade basketball game between Belfry and Phelps middle schools last Thursday that turned into a brawl during half-time that involved at least eight adults, most of whom were banned from school sport events for the remainder of the year, WYMT reports.

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The melee involved Belfry head coach Bobby Varney II and his brother, volunteer assistant coach Tommy Varney, as well as their father, Pike County Magistrate Bobby Varney. Two referees and six other adults also participated, according to WSAZ.

Videos online appeared to show the coaches, referees and Bobby Varney exchanging words and shoves with the referees before others attempt to intervene. Varney appears to fall to the ground, and is kicked in the head by a referee as the ref is pulled away, LEX 18 reports.

One of the coaches then charged through the crowd to the ref and tackled him at mid-court, which prompted even more people to join in.

“It is a very unfortunate incident and I can assure you our utmost concern is the safety of our kids,” assistant superintendent Fred Bowling said. “We regret that this happened, but it did, the adults were obviously out of control and as a result there are gonna be some charges and sanctions.”

The Pike County School Board suspended head coach Bobby Varney II without pay for the rest of the season, though they allowed him to continue to teach in the district. The board banned Tommy Varney, the two referees involved, and other adults from any school athletic events for the rest of the school year, school district attorney Neal Smith told WSAZ.

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“Eight adults … engaged in very inappropriate conduct under the circumstances,” Smith said.

Magistrate Varney was not sanctioned by the school board.

Pike County superintendent Reed Adkins told WKYT one person was sent to the hospital with minor injuries but will be okay. No students were involved. Both teams forfeited the game.

“It’s a real unfortunate situation,” he said. “We certainly will not tolerate this kind of behavior in our school system.”

The school board is now investigating to fully understand what caused the basketbrawl.

“It just saddens me; It breaks my heart,” official Tim Sammons, who was not involved but will referee Belfry’s next game, told WSAZ. “How can we be an example? If we’re supposed to be Christ-like, how can we be an example? If we take something like that action, how can we be mad at our children because they’re going to act just exactly like we act.”

Many commenters online made that exact same point.

“This is some nice role modeling going on here,” poster “Me 262 A-5a” wrote. “These adults are supposed to be leading by example on good sportsmanship, not engaging in fisticuffs in the middle of a … school basketball game.”

“All over a silly game,” Buck wrote. “Those that can not control themselves need to get a life and place a priority on things that matter for these kids.”