FOOTBALL Mid North Coast will assess what further sanctions to place on two Premier League clubs following an incident in Kempsey on Saturday.
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The first grade preliminary final between Macleay Valley Rangers and Wallis Lake was abandoned in the second half following an unsavoury on-field incident.
It involved a player and a member of the opposition coaching staff.
Football Mid North Coast chairman Mike Parsons acknowledged the comment was made from the bench which “incited retaliation and a subsequent pitch invasion.”
Port Saints coach John Goodman said it was now a good opportunity for FMNC to “come down hard” on those involved.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for Football Mid North Coast to deal with this appropriately or it will come back to bite them eventually,” he said.
“People have to take ownership for themselves.”
Goodman admitted some of his younger first graders may not return to the competition next season.
“The future is the young kids and I have a couple of them who may not play next season because of the over-the-top aggression we see in the competition,” he said.
“I don’t want to see younger players come into the competition if they’re coming into this sort of environment.
“Football Mid North Coast just have to come down hard.”
Port United coach Nathan Wade chose his words carefully.
His team is set to play the winner of Rangers and Wallis Lake with the match scheduled to be replayed on Tuesday night at 7pm in Taree.
“We’ll let Football Mid North Coast deal with it,” he said.
“Hopefully it gives them the chance to clean everything up and provide a warning for every other club in the competition.”
Parsons said the result from the weekend’s actions would take time and they weren’t taking it lightly.
“FMNC will clearly not tolerate contemptible or abhorrent victimization or comments, any breach of code of conduct or ethics, from players, coaching staff or spectators,” he said.
“Further investigation and incident reports will be forthcoming and dealt with by the judiciary.
“Any and all transgressors that are found to be in breach will be penalised accordingly.”
The FMNC chairman felt the decision to replay the match was the correct one.
“We will always have people who agree with it and those who don’t,” he said.
“But we felt the players were entitled to replay the match for a chance to play in the grand final.
“At the same time it is an incident we have major concerns with and we want to protect the integrity of the competition.”