North Haven team manager cops lifetime ban for hitting Fitzroy U13 player
The SANFL has handed a huge punishment to a junior football team manager who committed an act of violence on a young player last weekend, as SA Police continue to investigate.
A team manager of a SANFL Juniors side has been handed a major punishment for an act of violence which ended a local game last weekend.
The SANFL has charged a North Haven U13 team manager with breaching the SANFL Juniors Code of Conduct by entering the field of play and engaging in physical abuse towards a Fitzroy junior player last weekend.
Sources close to The Advertiser who witnessed the event alleged that in the third quarter of the U13s game between the two clubs last Sunday, the North Haven team manager ran to the opposite side of the oval and struck a Fitzroy player to the ground.
The team manager received a blue card - which can be issued by an umpire or official who deems off-field behaviour to be unacceptable - and was sent from the ground.
According to SANFL, Fitzroy’s coach then received a blue card for verbal abuse towards the North Haven bench in response to the incident.
“I was in shock, it was probably the worst thing I’ve seen on a footy field,” an onlooker told The Advertiser.
North Haven’s team manager will be deregistered as an official and has received a lifetime ban from holding any official role in football.
He is also suspended from attending any SANFL Juniors matches for 12 months.
North Haven was also fined $500 under the SANFL Juniors Competition Rules and Regulations and will be required to undertake a positive role modelling education session for all club officials prior to season 2024.
Fitzroy’s coach will receive a reprimand for his behaviour toward the North Haven bench.
“SANFL has zero tolerance for anyone who is in breach of our Code of Conduct at junior matches and it is simply unacceptable to see team officials, who should be role models for young players, behave in this manner,” SANFL executive general manager of football Matt Duldig said.
“In this instance, the severe penalties should serve as a reminder to anyone attending junior matches that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.
“We have a thriving SANFL Juniors competition with over 12,000 players and more than 550 matches each weekend of the home and away season, with the vast majority of people involved in the game doing the right thing.
“As a League, our priority is to protect the wellbeing of young players and umpires, ensuring that junior footy is an enjoyable and quality environment in which the game can be played.”
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Duldig also said the introduction of initiatives through recent years, including ‘sit down to coach’ rounds and the implementation of five-metre exclusion zones around coaching areas, were having an overall positive impact on behaviour on and off the field and that blue cards have reduced this season.
SANFL acknowledged that North Haven cooperated fully with the investigation and also commended the ground marshall and the Fitzroy first aid officer for their efforts in de-escalating the situation at hand.
SA Police continues its investigation of the incident but no charges have been laid.
Originally published as North Haven team manager cops lifetime ban for hitting Fitzroy U13 player
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