Junior coach ‘hit’ 13yo

Football GC boss says accused holds official role

A MAN facing a police investigation into allegedly hitting a 13-year-old during a junior soccer fixture was in a coaching position at the time.

Football Gold Coast general manage Damien Bresic yesterday revealed the man held an assistant coaching role with Mudgeeraba Soccer Club but was immediately suspended after the July 10 incident.

His future in the game hin- ges on the outcome of an ongoing Football GC disciplinary hearing into the under-15s match drama. A potential outcome is a life ban.

A separate police investigation also continues.

It has been alleged the man thumped a 13-year-old spectator who had run onto the field mid-match to defend an older brother playing for Ormeau. At the time, the older brother was in a fracas with a rival Mudgeeraba player believed to be the accused man’s son.

The 13-year-old’s mother has admitted her son joined in from the sideline and punched the Mudgeeraba player in the head. But she alleges the man reacted excessively, hitting her son “crazy hard” and knocking him unconscious.

Her family laid a police complaint soon after the game was abandoned.

Mr Bresic said once the hearing and police probe were concluded, Football GC may need to look at extra education programs for club coaches but he was keeping an open mind on the hearing outcome.

“We need to take the full story into account. If it was my son getting laid into and punched in the head it would be interesting to see the reaction any parent would have.

“There is no dispute a kid came on and punched another kid. There is no dispute (the man) came on. Did he overreact? Was his force excessive? I can’t answer that.

“One good thing to come out of this mess is we look at the education we give coaches and put things in place to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The hearing panel met last week but wanted more information after “conflicting reports”, Mr Bresic said.

The only reason Football GC got involved was the official club status of the man, he said.

“If he hadn’t held that role we couldn’t do anything to sanction him.”

The 13-year-old has also been suspended.

His mum said last week her son was struggling to sleep and may need counselling.