A CHILDREN’S football club has been “severely censured” by soccer chiefs after a player was sent off and the manager was involved in a shouting match.

Coxheath & Farleigh Junior Football Club, near Maidstone, which runs 14 teams ranging in age from seven to 17, has been warned about its future conduct by the Kent County Football Association (KCFA).

Brian Bailey, manager of the under-11 team, was handed down a suspended fine following the incident in a match in November 24. KCFA chief executive Keith Masters said Mr Bailey had set a poor example.

The incident took place when a Coxheath 10-year-old was sent off by the referee in the Invicta Primary League game for calling him a cheat, said Mr Masters. “But he was only repeating what Mr Bailey had been calling the referee,” said the KCFA boss.

Mr Bailey says he feels his treatment has been unfair. Coxheath chairman Terry Ketley said the club had been upset by the case and by other cases involving older Coxheath boys. “We take our responsibilities very seriously.” he stressed

Mr Masters added: “We look to adults to set a good example to the children in their charge. Children of that age are very malleable and if they see adults getting away with things they will do it too. Probably the biggest problem in kids’ football is adults,” he added.