Auckland Grammar School has pulled out of a football final against Mt Albert Grammar School after an altercation at a previous encounter involving former All Whites coach Kevin Fallon.
Auckland Grammar last night confirmed it would withdraw from tomorrow's Auckland schools knockout cup final against Mt Albert Grammar after the incident at a game between the schools at a tournament in Napier last week.
Fallon, who coaches Mt Albert Grammar, allegedly manhandled a player during a fight which a spectator described as an "all-in brawl like watching rugby league in the 1980s", The Dominion Post reported.
But Mt Albert officials have backed Fallon, saying he was himself assaulted by an Auckland Grammar player.
Auckland Grammar headmaster John Morris, a former New Zealand goalkeeper and ex-chairman of New Zealand Football, said a brawl began following a tackle on a Grammar player.
He said Fallon became involved, manhandling one of the Grammar players, and Fallon himself ended up on the ground following pushing and shoving.
One player from each side was sent off and subsequently suspended by the NZ Secondary Schools Football Association, but no action was taken against Fallon.
Mr Morris said the team's decision to back out of the knockout final was supported last night by the school's executive and board.
"This decision has not been taken lightly. Indeed, the school left the decision up to the players, who felt the nature of this particular incident as well as previous ones involving Mr Fallon meant this was the most appropriate action," he told the New Zealand Herald.
Secondary School Football Association chairman Malcolm Cowie said a referee had reported that Fallon had "simply restrained" an opposition player.
Mt Albert Grammar head Dale Burden, who had not spoken to Mr Morris about the incident since last Thursday, said the decision to call tomorrow's final off was "bizarre".
"I have received no complaints from anyone and certainly no evidence," he told the Herald.
"I have received all sorts of accounts of what happened -- including one that intimated Kevin Fallon had been assaulted."
The Auckland schools association will today consider whether it will attempt to persuade Auckland Grammar to play at what is regarded as a marquee occasion.
Fallon did not wish to comment, saying he felt it was a matter between the two headmasters.
