School superintendents in Scarborough and Portland have investigated and denounced alleged racial slurs directed at Deering High boys’ soccer players by Scarborough students at a game this month.

The incidents under investigation took place at the Oct. 7 game at Scarborough High.

“Comments included ‘Go back to Africa,’ and an America flag being waved in the crowd of spectators drew speculation that the USA chant from Scarborough fans were intended to draw attention to the (Deering) players’ places of origin,” according to a joint news release issued by the schools’ superintendents.

The superintendents ordered independent investigations and have taken actions to support Deering players and stop any future inappropriate behavior by Scarborough fans.

“This type of report is indeed very disappointing and such discriminatory behavior will absolutely not be tolerated,” Scarborough Superintendent George H. Entwhistle said in the release. “Steps have and will be taken to ensure that any such behavior will not happen again.”

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk said there was no evidence Scarborough players acted inappropriately. “The Scarborough student athletes and coaches conducted themselves in a sportsmanlike manner,” he said in the release.

Scarborough Athletic Director Michael Legage’s investigation of the allegations “was inconclusive,” according to the news release. His report was shared with Portland officials. In it, Legage reported the American flag and USA chant have been present at other games, used by fans of both Scarborough and Scarborough opponents.

Scarborough’s students sit opposite the team benches. They could clearly be heard chanting “USA, USA” during the game.

Deering High Coach Joel Costigan said Wednesday he heard the USA chants and did not think much of them at the time. The next day several of his players reported to school officials that some taunts were racist. Also, Deering parents reported they heard the Scarborough students use slurs while adults in the section laughed or said nothing, Costigan said.

On a videotape of the game, one fan could be heard yelling at a particular player, “I can smell you from here,” Costigan added.

Several of Deering’s players are immigrants, many from war-ravaged countries.

“My kids have dramatic stories and have seen so much, war in general, that they’re fleeing from,” Costigan said. “I would like to see some education about that but the biggest thing is I want to make sure my kids are going to go to a game and not experience that.”

Caulk praised Entwhistle for “swiftly conducting an investigation and denouncing it.”

“The Portland Public Schools is proud to be Maine’s most diverse school district,” Caulk was quoted in the release. “Our diversity is one of our strengths and we will not tolerate any aspersions against our students because of it.”

It is possible Deering will play at Scarborough in the Western regional semifinal on Saturday. That will happen if top-seeded Scarborough beats No. 8 Marshwood on Wednesday afternoon. Scarborough won the Oct. 7 game, 2-0.

Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or at:

scraig@pressherald.com

Twitter: SteveCCraig