Greater Middlesex Refs Who Walked Off Field Out For The Season

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Update: Ernie Lunardelli and his son, Anthony Lunardelli, referees for the Greater Middlesex Conference who walked off the field in a Colts Neck-Monroe game Friday night after players knelt during the National Anthem, have been removed from working any more games this season, NJ.com is reporting. Thomas Paulikas, who assigns the referees for the Greater Middlesex Conference, said the Lunardellis were removed from the schedule “because of fear that they might walk off again.”

“If they walked off once, what’s going to keep them from doing it tomorrow or the next day,” Paulikas said.

The father-son referee team who walked off the field Friday night in protest to Monroe players kneeling for the National Anthem were put under review by the Central Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Football Officials Association Monday, Oct. 30. Additionally, several racist Facebook posts surfaced, in which the father allegedly twice wrote the Obamas should "go back to the zoo" and one comment posted by the son saying Eli Manning only won a Super Bowl due to "jew luck."

On Friday night, Oct. 27, Ernie Lunardelli and his son, Anthony Lunardelli walked off the field at the Monroe-vs.-Colts Neck football game, in protest to some Monroe players kneeling for the National Anthem. The two men are now under investigation for their decision; they could either be fined or expelled from the Central Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Football Officials Association. An emergency hearing into the matter will be held this week. Colts Neck head football coach Darian Barnes also said Ernie Lunardelli screamed something in the direction of the Monroe sidelines Friday night, but didn't hear exactly what.

The two referees both stood on the field with their hands over their hearts while the National Anthem was played before the game Friday night, Oct. 27. As Patch has reported, at least four players on the Monroe team have been kneeling for the anthem all season now, to protest police brutality. The father-son referees then both left the field immediately after the anthem because they saw four Monroe players take a knee. Related: 4 Monroe High School Players Take Knee Before New Brunswick Game

The Central Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Football Officials Association is conducting an emergency board of review hearing later this week into the issue, the Asbury Park Press reported. The Lunardellis will be invited to testify at that hearing, along with both Colts Neck football coaches and athletics directors and Monroe football coaches and athletic directors.

Ernie Lunardelli said he told Thomas Paulikas, the assigner for the Greater Middlesex Conference, weeks ago that he would walk off and refuse to officiate any game in which players took a knee. Ernie also said he told coaches from both Colts Neck and Monroe about 75 minutes before kick-off he would walk off the field if players took a knee.

“Reports have surfaced that this was not a spontaneous reaction, but rather something pre-planned, and others were previously aware. That is what is causing us in a leadership position at the New Jersey Football Officials Association and the NJSIAA some consternation at this time," said Scott Heiser, chairman of the Central Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Football Officials Association, according to the APP story.

The Colts Neck football coach also said he wants the refs reviewed.

“To me, he’s a coward,” Colts Neck head coach Darian Barnes said, according to NJ.com. “You don’t stand there and scream at a bunch of 16- and 17-year-olds who are just expressing their rights the same as he was expressing his. He’s a grown man. After you tell the other adults what you are going to do, you don’t turn around and scream at kids. That’s what needs to be addressed.”

“Anybody that disrespects the flag, in my eyes, it’s not right,” said Ernie, who has reffed GMC games for 18 years. “What they are doing with this kneeling and everything, they have the right do to that, but the National Anthem has nothing to do with them kneeling. The flag has got nothing to do with why they are protesting. If they want to protest, let them protest, but don’t disrespect our country, the flag and the armed forces.”

On both Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, Ernie Lunardelli's Facebook account wrote twice as comments under a photo of Barack and Michelle Obama: “Thanks for f***ing up the country!! Back to the zoo!!!” allegedly written as a comment to someone who posted a photo of the Obamas thanking them for their service.

In a 2012 post, his son Anthony Lunardelli, described Giants quarterback Eli Manning as having "jew luck" in winning the Super Bowl, NJ.com reported. Ernie said he was hacked.

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