The practise of a Dunedin junior football coach who allegedly made players touch their noses to the ground after making mistakes was meant to be "fun".
Photo: Photosport
Football South chief executive Chris Wright said the coach and club had been cleared of wrongdoing as it was done with the consent of players and parents.
"The intention of it was to be fun. It wasn't designed to punish the kids - the intentions behind it were pure.
"It doesn't excuse that it's not best practice."
The investigation began after a father from an opposing team saw what he believed was the coach making a child rub their nose in dirt.
The incident occurred in a 13th grade match in early June. It is understood the club concerned is Green Island Football Club.
The coach and concerned parent shared a heated exchange after the match.
Mr Wright said it was difficult to ascertain what exactly took place due to the number of conflicting reports about the incident.
"The board reviewed the evidence supplied and found no issues of player welfare, discrimination, or safety," he said.
"The practise was enacted across the players in the team intended as a training aid with the team's consent and support, and was not targeted at any individual player.
Mr Wright said he understood why the parent of an opposing team complained.
"Looking at that issue in the window he saw it, it certainly was inappropriate."
Football South would be creating an easier pathway for people to make complaints against concerning behaviour at matches, Mr Wright said.
"That's one of the most important things is that out of this there's improvements that happen in the game."
Attempts to contact Green Island Football Club have been unsuccessful.
