updated 11:21 a.m. ET Jan. 26, 2007

RALEIGH, N.C. - The parents of three Guilford College football players charged with ethnic intimidation defended their sons Friday, nearly a week after an on-campus fight between the players and three Palestinian students.

The parents of Michael Bates, Michael Robert Six and Christopher Barnette issued a statement Friday, asking the public to withhold judgment until an investigation was completed. The statement said Six was attacked with a belt by one of the accusers but didn’t offer further details.

“Under our system of government, our sons are presumed innocent of these charges and we hope that the community and the media will let the system run its course in determining their innocence or guilt,” the statement said.

Five players face charges of assault and ethnic intimidation in connection with a fight Saturday. The charges do not reflect results of a police investigation.

The charges were approved by a magistrate judge after a complaint was filed by the accusers — Guilford College students Faris Khader and Osama Sabbah and North Carolina State student Omar Awartani, who was visiting Greensboro from Raleigh.

The Palestinian men said they were taunted with racial slurs and called “terrorists” as they were beaten and kicked, according to court documents.

Lawyer Seth Cohen said his clients didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t provoke the attack.

“They were minding their own business,” Cohen said.

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The FBI is investigating to determine whether a hate crime was committed, FBI spokesman Tim Stutheit said.

Bates, Six and Barnette were arrested Monday on misdemeanor charges. Two other players, Jonathan Underwood and Jazz Favors, were charged Thursday. Underwood also faces one count of communicating threats.

Guilford football coach Kevin Kiesel asked that students and faculty refrain from premature judgments.

“I have a lot of confidence in the judicial process at Guilford,” Kiesel said.

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