Former All Whites coach Kevin Fallon has accused Auckland Grammar School of pulling out of a football match against his Mt Albert Grammar team because they are scared of losing.
It was revealed yesterday that Auckland Grammar have withdrawn from today's showpiece Auckland Schools Knockout Cup final against their fierce rivals after an altercation during a match between the two teams at a competition 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".
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.
Fallon said yesterday he had never known of a team failing to show for a final.
"Why wouldn't you? I've never known this anywhere in the world. You get to a cup final and you don't show up?" he told The New Zealand Herald.
Fallon said his side had a superior results record and questioned if that was Grammar's motivation for defaulting.
"Maybe they don't want to get beaten, I don't know. They've been beaten three times this year (by Mt Albert) -- maybe they don't want a fourth one."
He said the Mt Albert Grammar first 11 won two major competitions this year and were gunning for the third, a rare honour the school last achieved in 1999.
"I hope they turn up -- we don't want to get a cheap triple, we want to earn our triple," Fallon said.
He would not comment on the incident in Napier.
It is believed police interviewed Fallon about alleged "manhandling" of an Auckland Grammar player and have DVD footage from the game but decided to take no further action.
Auckland Grammar principal John Morris, a former New Zealand international goalkeeper, said his team's decision to back out of the knockout final was supported 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 paper.
Secondary School Football Association chairman Malcolm Cowie said a referee had reported Fallon had "simply restrained" an opposition player.
