Seven Narbonne football players declared ineligible; more sanctions loom

After waiting 49 days to play a high school football game because four Marine League coaches forfeited games rather than face a team they believe violated rules, Narbonne received more bad news before its City Section Open Division playoff game against Dorsey on Friday night.

The City Section declared seven Narbonne players ineligible, City Section Commissioner Vicky Lagos said following a joint investigation by the Los Angeles Unified School District and the City Section. Narbonne defeated Dorsey 47-13 to advance to Friday’s semifinals against Birmingham at home, but more problems are ahead.

Lagos said Saturday morning that the infractions will result in Narbonne being banned from next year’s playoffs and that because the school’s sports program is already on probation for using an ineligible girls’ volleyball player, more sanctions could be added. Narbonne will have to forfeit all games that the players participated in and the players will be ineligible next season for at least 10 games unless they file a successful appeal.

A letter obtained by The Times that was sent to Narbonne’s administration said a group of players was in violation of City Section bylaw 202, which deals with providing fraudulent information. Several families, according to the letter, used “common addresses, bills and utility meter numbers” to establish residency for enrollment at Narbonne. Another allegation involves transfers who played for a seven-on-seven team run by the uncle of a former Narbonne player. The violation would be pre-enrollment contact that was not disclosed, a violation of bylaw 510.

Narbonne hadn’t played a game since Sept. 27, instead receiving four forfeit victories. The actions taken by the protesting coaches prompted LAUSD to investigate, according to Carson coach Mike Christensen. Narbonne has had 24 transfers into the football program in the last year, more than any other school in the City Section.

“I’m glad they looked into it,” Christensen said. “At least there was action. ‘Can we look into this a little closer?’ It’s about the ethics of the City Section.”

Narbonne received the No. 1 seed for the eight-team Open Division playoffs and will continue. The other semifinal will have Carson hosting San Pedro, which beat Banning 37-26 on Friday night.

This is the second time Narbonne’s football program has faced sanctions for ineligible players. The program was banned from the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 and had its 2018 championship vacated.