Media-KC Men's Soccer-Soper |
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Commissioner's Rulings
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2009-10October 1, 2009Facts: Following a 1-0 loss to GPRC on September 20, 2009, KC men’s soccer coach Jonathan Soper made negative comments about the game official in a newspaper article printed the following day in the (Grande Prairie) Daily Herald Tribune. In the article, Mr. Soper was quoted as saying that “Officials are officials and they make a game or break a game and this game today and yesterday was just a gong show.” In the next paragraph he added the following: “It’s kind of disappointing to travel eight hours and come up to this disgrace.” Ruling: Article I Section 3 Rule 3.1 of the ACAC Operating Code is worded as follows: 3.1. Coaches have a responsibility to: 3.1.3.2. Refrain from directing criticism toward game officials when speaking to the media. I appreciate that Mr. Soper may have been frustrated by the performance and attitude of the official in question. However, the proper course of action would have been to have his Athletic Director contact the ACAC VP Operations with the school’s concerns. Making complaints about an official in a public forum such as a newspaper only serves to undermine the credibility of the ACAC in the eyes of the public and should be avoided at all costs. Based on the actions of Mr. Soper, Keyano College is hereby fined $500, payable forthwith to the ACAC Office. Bill Hendsbee |