“New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) rules state “an assigned official will check each wrestler for proper hair grooming, facial hair and fingernail length” for safety on the mat. However, there are also rules specifying that wrestlers are permitted to use a “legal hair cover.” For whatever reason, Maloney did not afford Johnson this option.” From
“According to a 2016 story from USA TODAY partner The Courier-Post, Maloney has been accused of racism before. That year, the Courier-Post reported, he was accused of directing a racial slur at another referee at a private gathering between officials at a condominium.” From
It was an act of discrimination by this “man” and probably racism.