A futsal coach who was banned from coaching representative teams for two years is taking legal action to remove the ban.
Michael Taylor was banned, along with two other coaches, by Football South for actions which occurred on a trip by teams to the National Futsal Youth Championships in Palmerston North in July.
When contacted this week, Taylor said he was left with no option but to take legal action against Football South to get the ban lifted.
When the ban was handed out, Taylor felt it was unfair but could not afford to engage lawyers to try to overturn it.
But over time, he felt his reputation had been significantly damaged and he was left with no option but to take legal action.
He disputed many of the reasons for the ban and the version of events held by Football South.
He felt as if he had been made a scapegoat by Football South. After the ban was imposed he continued to coach children at the Roslyn-Wakari club and had journeyed to Japan with a Dunedin Technical junior side.
He set up a football coaching school for children mid year and that was his employment.
Football South had banned the players for any Football South coaching or management roles for a period of two years.
Football South coaching director Paul O’Reilly said, when contacted, he could not comment on the situation as he had not heard of the legal action.
