Under 14s girls footy match is ABANDONED after coach accused opposition of fielding boys before pulling his players from the field
- A coach under the age of 14 would have taken his players off the field
- He questioned the gender of two of the opponents
- He is now being charged in court over the incident
A youth football coach will face the AFLNT tribunal after booting his under-14s girls side from the ground after accusing the opposing team of playing boys.
The Southern Districts girls were taken off the park during the first quarter of their Round 8 match against Nightcliff in the Northern Territory last Friday and did not return to complete the match.
Coach Mark Breed approached the officials to express concerns about the gender of at least two of the Nightcliff players, the Mercury reports.
However, when no solution was reached, he told his players to leave the field.
The coach who dragged his team off the field has been accused of misconduct by an AFLNT competition review panel (stock image)
Breed has been accused of misconduct by the match review panel and will proceed to a tribunal hearing.
Nightcliff president Mark Dodge said the club was disappointed in the episode.
“We obviously comply with the AFLNT guidelines, but we as a club are disappointed that it has come to this,” Dodge said.
“We look forward to a resolution regarding the ongoing investigations.
“Both players are girls and regardless of who they are, this is under the age of 14 and this type of alleged behavior is not acceptable at junior level.”
Southern Districts chairman Kevin Mulvahill said the club was compliant with the AFLNT following its release.
Southern Districts coach Mark Breed ensured his team’s match was abandoned in the second quarter last Friday
Nightcliff president Mark Dodge said the club was disappointed in the episode after Breed accused the club of fielding boys on a girls’ team
“There was a problem during the under-14s match,” he said.
“We are currently working with the AFLNT and all parties to reach a resolution.”
A league spokesperson said: ‘AFLNT takes all allegations of abuse, inappropriate behavior and defamation very seriously and there is no place for such behavior in our game at any level.
‘AFLNT and its clubs work hard to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants, officials and spectators, regardless of an individual’s background, from Auskick and junior boys’ and girls’ football to senior men’s and women’s football.’