Dunedin football coach allegedly forced player to rub nose in dirt - report

  • 11/06/2018
The coach is said to have gloated about his actions.
The coach is said to have gloated about his actions. Photo credit: Getty

A Dunedin football coach allegedly forced a young player to rub his nose in dirt and then "gloated" about it, according to a report. 

Football South, the governing body for football in the region, is investigating the allegations, but has warned the incident should not become a "witch hunt" until more information has been gathered, Otago Daily Times reports. 

The allegations have been made by Dunedin parent Mark Joyce who posted on social media Saturday that while he was watching a 13th grade match the opposing team's coach forced one of the players to "rub their nose in dirt". 

Mr Joyce says he approached the coach after witnessing him gloating "as to what he made the kid do".

The players were between 11 and 13 years old, he said. 

The coach's name hasn't been publicly revealed by Mr Joyce but he has made an official complaint about the coach to Football South, Otago Daily Times reports. 

"That guy's obviously going to have to justify himself at some time," he said. 

Football South chief executive Christ Wright said he has received information from people decrying the coach's actions and from people defending him.  

He said the information he has received so far is "quite vague" and says more information is required about the incident before he can act on the allegations. 

Newshub.