The absolute last thing any sports entity wants is a conflict of interest (or even the appearance of one) from game officials. That had basketball referee Anthony Jordan hearing from the SEC after a 2014 Facebook post surfaced of him holding an LSU shirt.
Jordan had worked Saturday’s LSU-Tennessee game in Baton Rouge, and he accurately called a foul on Tennessee with .6 seconds remaining in overtime with the score tied at 80. LSU would make the two free throws and win, 82-80.
While the call itself wasn’t controversial outside of Tennessee circles, Vols fans quickly uncovered the 2014 post of Jordan holding an LSU shirt in Spain with a caption that read, “Geaux Tigers.”
Despite Jordan’s 19 years of work in the SEC, the possible conflict had the league office scrambling for an answer about the photo. Jordan told the SEC that the photo was meant to poke fun at seeing a familiar logo (LSU) while traveling abroad. He claimed it was meant as a private post for friends despite displaying the photo with a public setting.
Still, SEC associate commissioner Herb Vincent reprimanded Jordan for the social media post.
He said via tennessean.com:
“Anthony Jordan, the official in this social media post, has communicated to us that while traveling in Spain five years ago he saw the t-shirt from an SEC team for sale in a store. He took a picture and posted that picture to be seen by friends via his social media account. He said it was his intent to make a light-hearted social media post about having seen the t-shirt in another country and not to express affinity for a particular school.
“Jordan has officiated at a high level in the SEC for 19 years, including 11 assignments in NCAA postseason tournaments.
“We do not find this social media post to be acceptable with our expectations and will proceed accordingly, while also acknowledging Mr. Jordan has a lengthy track record as a fair and impartial basketball official.”
The “proceed accordingly” left a lot to be interpreted with what discipline Jordan will face — or if he will face any at all.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes was concerned enough about the photo that he was in contact with the SEC about the matter. Barnes said via knoxnews.com:
“I have been in contact with them since the game a couple different times,” Barnes said. “I appreciate them and how they talk to me and what we talk about. I have full confidence they are going to do the right thing. They understand the situation. They are as upset about it as we would be.
SEC guidelines prohibit officials from displaying logos or fandom for other teams to avoid this very circumstance. The conference also prevents officials from working games involving a school that he or she (along with children and spouses) attended.
At the very least, this was a bad look for Jordan.
