Centennial Player Disciplined : Prep football: Kumasi Simmons suspended from school, removed from team for punching official.

Kumasi Simmons, a senior football player at Compton Centennial High, has been suspended from school and kicked off the team for punching a referee during a game at Beverly Hills on Friday afternoon.

The official, Ken Smotrys, has also been suspended pending an investigation by the Beverly Hills Police Department into an allegation that he pushed a Centennial player moments before being hit by Simmons.

Simmons, 16, and Smotrys, 34, were arrested by citizens during the second half of Friday’s game. They were charged with simple battery and released, police said.

“It is routine to suspend an official while an investigation is going on,” said Dean Crowley, Southern Section commissioner. “As far as Centennial goes, our office doesn’t plan any further action.”

Carrie Allen, Centennial’s principal, met with Simmons and his parents Monday morning and said they understood and accepted the suspension. Under Southern Section rules, any athlete who hits an official forfeits eligibility for the remainder of their high school career.

Allen is investigating the charge made by a Centennial player that he was pushed by Smotrys.

Smotrys, who suffered a cut above his left eye, declined comment. He has been officiating for 12 years.

Simmons, 6 feet 1 and 185 pounds, was a starting linebacker and fullback and a team captain.

“He is the leader of this team and someone I have never had a problem with before,” said Centennial Coach Omar Bradley, who is also the mayor of Compton. “I don’t condone him hitting a referee, though. I always tell my players not to channel their anger in a way that is harmful to other people.”

The player who alleged he was pushed by Smotrys was in school and at football practice Monday.

Beverly Hills, which was leading, 14-0, at the time of the incident, has been awarded the victory by forfeit.