Accused coach was ‘Mr PC that day’

A coach accused of threatening to kill a junior football referee ‘‘strongly’’ denies the allegation, but admits being involved in two confrontations during the game.

Supporters directed ‘‘mild bantering’’ at the volunteer referee, but coach Jan Chmielewski insists he was not abusive and maintains he was ‘‘Mr PC that day’’.

He admitted being involved in a standoff with referee David Adams and calling a woman at the game a ‘‘moaning bitch’’.

Tensions boiled over after a goal was disallowed during the 11th grade game, featuring 10 and 11-year-olds, between Island Bay United and Waterside Karori at Wellington’s Sinclair Park on May 12.

Children were left crying and Mr Adams said he abandoned the game after Mr Chmielewski threatened to kill him.

Yesterday Mr Chmielewski said: ‘‘The whole thing is a farce and it’s been blown way out of proportion. I never abused him once.

‘‘I never threatened to kill him at all. It is a lie. I strongly deny this. This is humiliating for me and never happened.’’

The incident has prompted an internal club investigation, and Capital Football Federation, the body governing the game in Wellington, wants answers after being alerted by Fairfax Media.

Mr Adams and Rachel Mcmaster, whose son plays for Waterside Karori, both believe Mr Chmielewski should be banned from coaching.

The Island Bay United coach denied knowledge of the incident on Friday, but admitted yesterday that he was the man at the centre of the allegations.

Throughout the second half, Island Bay supporters ‘‘mildly bantered’’ Mr Adams, Mr Chmielewski said.

‘‘He couldn’t take any criticism. I mean, what kind of referee doesn’t have a thick skin?’’

He said he was frustrated Mr Adams kept approaching Island Bay supporters to ask them to stop abusing him, while tackles were made behind his back.

‘‘It’s not acceptable. I kept asking him nicely, ‘ Please referee, concentrate on the children.’ He was basically allowing his players to attack ours and assault ours.

‘‘I was Mr PC that day. Why am I being persecuted over some idiot’s inability to run a game?’’

At the end of the game Mr Adams shook his hand, he said. ‘‘If I just told you I was going to kill you, would you offer me your hand?’’