Ban lifted after Staten Island football hazing scandal

SEAVIEW, N.Y. (WABC) -- Football programs can resume at Susan Wagner High School on Staten Island, school officials said Friday.

A statement from the Department of Education said that "suspension of practices, meetings and games for both the junior varsity and varsity programs at Wagner High School has been lifted effective immediately and all football activities may resume."

Hazing allegations surfaced involving the Staten Island high school's football teams, the Falcons.

This scandal came to light after two busloads of football players and coaches returned from a seven-day training camp last week.

At least two JV players went on record with disturbing details about how older players allegedly shot younger ones with BB guns, hit them with socks filled with powder, drew phallic symbols on their bodies while they slept, and one alleged victim said day and night he was beaten with a broomstick.

Earlier this week, parents were looking for information about the scandal. "It's sad to see this go down because you don't know the facts, you don't know anything that really happened, we don't even know," said Jean Chiusano, a parent, on Wednesday.

One parent didn't want to show his face, but described what his 16-year-old son said happened at camp. "They're taking some of the kids who are sleeping and putting their rear ends in their faces," the father said.

The statement released Friday noted that, "The safety of our students is our top priority."

The games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed. The statement also said that the investigation is continuing and that two volunteer coaches were suspended.