Seven people who threatened referee John Higgins after some controversial calls during Kentucky's 75-73 loss to North Carolina in the 2017 NCAA Tournament have been identified and could be eventually charged by authorities in their jurisdictions or the FBI, Sarpy County Nebraska Attorney Lee Polikov said Friday, according to the Associated Press.
Higgins owns a roofing company in suburban Omaha that was inundated with harassing emails, phone calls and voicemails -- including death threats against him and his family -- after Kentucky coach John Calipari publicly criticized the officiating in his press conference following the Wildcats' Elite Eight loss at FedExForum in Memphis. According to Polikov, at least two media outlets were identified as promoting and posting a video montage that exposed Higgins' contact information.
"This information has been referred to the Federal Communications Commission for further investigation of the potential violations related to applicable federal communications regulations," Polikov said.
Sheriff's investigator Matt Barrall estimated about 75 percent of the 3,000 phone calls made to Higgins office in the two days after the game came from Kentucky area codes, according to the Associated Press. Reached Friday by the AP, Higgins said he had no comment other than to say he appreciated the work of local law enforcement officials.
