St. Benedict’s Prep soccer star suspended for allegedly grabbing photographer

A New Jersey high school soccer star has been suspended indefinitely by his school from all team activities after he was involved in a post-match skirmish that included the player allegedly grabbing the neck of a news photographer. 

St. Benedict’s Prep junior forward Amadou Hann is not allowed to practice or play in any games while suspended and it’s unclear when he’d be allowed to come back to the team, NJ Advanced Media reported Tuesday. 

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association — the governing body for high school sports in the state — acknowledged the suspension and is moving forward with its own investigation into the Saturday night incident in Jersey City, a spokesperson told the outlet. 

“Additional steps will be taken as appropriate to ensure full accountability and to protect the integrity of interscholastic athletics,” NJSIAA spokesperson Mike Cherenson said. “The safety and respect of all participants, including members of the media, is fundamental to our mission.”

A St. Benedict’s Prep spokesperson said the school was “working with NJSSIAA” as it determines additional “corrective action.” 

Hann, who is one of the top players in the 2027 class, was involved in an altercation after St. Benedict’s Prep’s game on Saturday against St. Peter’s Prep. 

Video published by NJ Advanced Media showed the incident began as Hann went running toward opposing players to engage them before being pulled away, only for other players from both sides to push and shove, and at least one punch could be seen thrown.

The alleged attack on the photographer is said to have happened amid the melee, but was not captured on video. 

Tom Horack, a photojournalist assigned to the game for NJ Advanced Media, said Hann ran toward him and demanded that he delete photos he had taken of the brawl that had broken out between the two teams.

Horak said Hann had grabbed him by the throat and had left abrasions on his neck. 

St. Benedict’s headmaster, Rev. Edwin Leahy, condemned the incident, saying that “whatever Amadou did was absolutely wrong as far as I am concerned.”