During a junior football tournament in Auckland on Sunday an Ellerslie FC coach was allegedly knocked unconscious by an opposition fan while walking to the bathroom.
The shocking incident unfolded shortly after the coach’s under-10 girls’ team defeated Papakura City FC in a semifinal match.
Speaking to legacy media, Northern Region Football (NRF) chief executive Laura Menzies condemned the attack, calling it “completely unacceptable” and out of place at what was meant to be a “fun girls’ tournament.”
Witnesses report that the attacker, believed to be a parent of a Papakura player, had been making threatening gestures towards Ellerslie supporters throughout the match. The situation escalated when the coach was reportedly struck from behind by the man at Keith Hay Park, leaving her requiring hospital care.
The coach has since returned home and is recovering from the ordeal.
Image credit: Peter Glaser
What a coward and an absolute hothead, I feel for his family. There’s no need for that kind of carry on. He attacked a woman from behind. No excuses , there should be jail time.