Soccer: Top coach banned after ref's complaint

Former All Whites coach Kevin Fallon reportedly said 'numerous inappropriate comments'. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Top coach Kevin Fallon has been banned from school soccer until the end of the season because of complaints that he abused a referee.

The former All Whites boss, who now coaches the Mt Albert Grammar School first XI, was suspended after a complaint from referee Alan Marriott after MAGS had beaten Kelston Boys' High School 1-0 in a Knockout Cup quarter-final on June 23.

Acting on that "incident" report, ASB College Sport chief executive Manoj Daji suspended Mr Fallon until the end of this season.

In his report to Mr Daji, Mr Marriott said: "In the 61st minute of the game, I was speaking to a MAGS player following an incident on the field. Kevin Fallon called out from the bench complaining that more time was being spent in lecturing players than playing football - '10 minutes playing and 20 minutes lecturing ref, get on with the game' was the essence of the comment made.

"I chose to deal with this incident as it followed numerous inappropriate comments he made in the first half from his position above the changing rooms. 'The ref's looking to give [free] kicks against us boys' and 'the ref is biased' are two examples I recall."

After speaking to Mr Fallon, the referee, who booked three MAGS players during the match, said if he needed to speak to him again during the match he would be asked to leave.

"I received the incident report and acted on it," said Mr Daji. "It was a College Sport decision to suspend Fallon until the end of the season."

Mr Fallon and Mt Albert Grammar have appealed the decision. The board of the Auckland Secondary Schools Heads Association will hear the appeal on Friday.

The Auckland Secondary Schools Football Association, which organises soccer on behalf of College Sport, was not involved in the suspension decision. Association secretary Ian McLaughlan said he had concerns about the way the matter was handled.

"We are concerned that a referee chose to go directly to College Sport and not come to us. There has been no input from us as the governing body."

The decision could mean Mr Fallon will not be able to attend any of his team's six remaining matches in the Senior A1 Championship, the remaining Knockout Cup matches and possibly the Lotto Premier Tournament in Nelson starting on August 31, at which MAGS will defend the title they won in Napier last year.

It was at that tournament that Mr Fallon, a member of the NZ Soccer Hall of Fame and a life member of the NZ Coaches Association, found himself in strife after an altercation during his team's semifinal win over Auckland Grammar.

As a result of that he has been stood down by MAGS headmaster Dale Burden for any matches between the two schools this season including this afternoon's clash at MAGS.

Mr Fallon will instead spend today with a team of 15-year-olds from the Fencibles club in East Auckland.

Mr Fallon is not allowed to comment on the current situation as it may be subject to legal action.

Mr Burden, disappointed the matter has become public, said: "We are co-operating with the investigation."