A video of a Nanaimo teen being punched, kicked and having his head slammed into the ground at school was nothing more than a dust-up between a group of boys, according to the local school district.

The eight-second video was taken at John Barsby Community School Friday morning and appears to show the teen sitting on a hallway floor when he’s struck, then kicked. His head is seen ricocheting off the hallway floor.

The boy, who was hospitalized with a concussion and bruising, told CTV News he was assaulted in an act of bullying, but the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District is denying that.

“I believe that this particular circumstance is a case of an altercation, and it’s a fight,” said School District 68 Supt. John Blaine. “Bullying represents a lot of different things. In this case, this was an altercation in a hallway that was a fight.”

Blaine said a physical altercation differs from bullying because the latter is “an ongoing process where there is verbal hurt, pieced around virtual name-calling.”

Nanaimo RCMP have confirmed the incident involved three 17-year-old boys who allegedly assaulted the victim. Police are now considering charges.

“Any situation in the school involving assaults are treated seriously,” said Const. Gary O’Brien. “Our school liaison officer is investigating. We take a very proactive stance with any form of bullying or violence in the schools.”

The victim’s mother would not go on camera, but in a statement to CTV News maintained her son is a victim of bullying.

“This is bullying. One of these boys has a history of it. They should be careful what they say,” she said. “When my son got hurt, the school didn’t contact me.”

CTV News has learned the teen seen punching and kicking the victim in the video had signed with the Vancouver Island Raiders football team on June 1.

After learning of the video, the Raiders said the teen was immediately suspended – adding the team does not condone violence.

RCMP and school staff believe the altercation may have stemmed from an incident on social media.

Officials said they’ll be reviewing video surveillance of the incident as the investigation continues.