A referee inadvertently fractured a college football player’s leg during a bizarre incident in the first half of East Carolina Pirates’ win against Temple Owls.
East Carolina defensive back David Coleman Jr. was on the field alongside his teammates between plays when an official ran in to deal with something near the 40-yard line.
The official approached the players from behind, slipped, and slid into Coleman Jr., who then fell forward onto the ground.
Coleman Jr. remained on the turf, and eventually two team members helped him off the field, carrying him so that he wouldn’t have to put weight on his injured leg.
East Carolina coach Blake Harrell later confirmed that Coleman Jr had an X-ray at half-time, which revealed he had fractured his fibula during the incident.
“Our thoughts and our prayers are with him. But that’s just one of those things. It’s kind of wild that it happens; I’d never seen that from an official,” said Blake.
East Carolina won the game 17-9, and Coleman Jr recorded one tackle during the match before he left the field.Referee
