RNZ Wellington, October 3, 2018
A former All White has said that there should to be change at the top in New Zealand Football after a damning report into its culture, but the President said that he will not resign.
The independent review follows complaints by 12 Football Ferns players about former coach Andreas Heraf’s bullying behaviour.
Former All White player Sam Malcolmson said that New Zealand Football President Deryck Shaw should resign in light of the report.
He said that there is for a change in the organisation, starting with Mr Shaw at the top.
‘Chairman should go’
“The one thing that’s loud and clear is the Chairman should go. The Chairman was very close to the CEO and also his friends on the Board, and I think that he is the one thing that has to go. And without him gone, then New Zealand Football can’t start afresh.”
Mr Shaw said that New Zealand Football accepted the report’s findings and will implement its recommendations.
The report by Employment Lawyer Philippa Muir said that Football New Zealand needed to apologise to the 12 women players and offer counselling.
Bullying and harassing
It said some of Mr Heraf’s behaviour had crossed the line into bullying and harassment.
Ms Muir also said New Zealand Football needed to shoulder some of the blame.
‘It’s been a toxic area, it’s been a laughing stock’ – Former All White Sam Malcolmson
But Mr Shaw told Checkpoint (of RNZ) he did not plan to resign.
“If the membership of NZ Football want us to step down, then that’s appropriate. But I think in the meantime, the feedback that I’ve had from members of New Zealand Football is that there is a job to do, and we expect you to do it,” he said.
Football Ferns’ coach Andreas Heraf addresses the media after the match between the Football Ferns and Japan in June. Photo: PhotoSport
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