Known for having the easy technical fault, Ken Mauer does not officiate in the NBA this season. After 36 years in the big league, he explains that he was pushed out because he refused vaccination against Covid-19, because of his religious beliefs.
” I never thought that my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ would stop me or make me stop refereeing NBA games. That’s what happened “, lamented the former referee, on the set of the show “Fearless”. According to him, no less than 17 of his counterparts (out of just under 90 referees hired this season) were opposed to this vaccination, imposed in their collective agreement.
The NBA had, however, clarified that, like franchise employees, any referee with a documented medical or religious reason for not being vaccinated could request an exemption. Without this exemption, an unvaccinated official could not be allowed to participate in matches.
” Many referees have been forced to do so because they have children, families and bills to pay. They are afraid, I am not. I will never get vaccinated “, proclaimed loud and clear the official to more than 1,900 matches whistled in the regular season and 200 in the playoffs. He said that last season, when vaccination was not yet compulsory, he was tested four times on match days.
” I’m not ashamed of my walkhe continued. In fact, I’m very proud of what I do, very proud of my faith. I am no different from a truck driver, a teacher, a health care worker, a construction worker or whatever. Whether for medical or religious reasons, they do not want to be vaccinated. And now they are forced to do it, otherwise they will lose their jobs. It’s a shame.“
