El Cerrito HS football players claim school officials followed them home amid eligibility controversy

(KRON) -- The El Cerrito High School football team has forfeited multiple games this season amid controversy about players' eligibility, according to a letter written by the "ECHS football family" obtained by KRON4. A petition has been started to fire school principal Malcolm Norrington, who the team says is behind the forfeits.

The letter alleges a litany of complaints against Norrington and the West Contra Costa Unified School District, including intimidating and threatening student-athletes.

The scandal involves the eligibility of certain players. The letter claims that players were deemed ineligible by the school even though they were cleared by the North Coast Section.

"Throughout these difficulties, there has been a noticeable lack of support from district management in addressing the mental health and well-being of our players and coaches," the letter said. "We have been left to pick up the pieces on our own, trying to navigate these challenges without the necessary support and guidance."

MaxPreps currently shows ECHS' record as 1-6. Five of those losses are listed as forfeits. Players claim they found out about the forfeits by coaches at other schools. ECHS has been one of the better teams in its district in recent years, combining to lose just three games over the last two seasons.

The team's head coach has been suspended twice by the school, the letter says. Students held a walk-out in support of their coaches.

Players report that Norrington threatened to bench the players and take away offers handed out to them by colleges. School district staffers have also "interrogated" students about where they live and followed them home to verify their address, the letter said.

KRON4 reached out to both Norrington and WCCUSD for comment on this story and did not hear back.