Football sackings -˜not isolated’

A Sydney man was sacked as a rugby union coach following a whisper campaign about his sexuality, claims of an involvement with underage players, and the circulation of false rumours he was the subject of a Queensland Police child pornography investigation.

Geoff Quinn still has not been reinstated to his former position despite reaching a conciliation agreement with the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club in 2007 for defamation and sacking.

However, the club advised Sydney Star Observer that the issue, which began under previous club management, had now been resolved satisfactorily.

The case is one of several demonstrating a fear of gay men in football circles, recently highlighted in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings involving the Bonnie Doon Football Club and sacked trainer Ken Campagnolo.

Quinn kept a low profile during his own Anti-Discrimination Board conciliation negotiations, despite having access to politicians and the media through his part-time role working for a Liberal politician.

But after a series of delays by NSW Rugby Union in fulfilling the conciliation agreement, Quinn provided Sydney Star Observer with his report into the events.

When I read the letters [about me] I was as shocked and appalled as any reader would be. They are invented hearsay, Quinn said, adding that any breach of the coach’s code of ethics would go against all his own principles.

The letters, sighted by SSO, allege he had a predisposition to young males, was involved in a series of distasteful incidents, was the subject of the Argos taskforce investigation, and had subsequently fled to America.

Quinn had a distinguished record as a coach at the Universities of New England and Queensland before taking up an under 19s coaching role with Darling Downs Rugby Union club in 2002, where the letters originated.

In June 2005 Easts stood Quinn down from his coaching role and revoked his club membership. Quinn claims he was told he was not a morally fit person to remain and escorted off the premises. It took 21 months before Quinn was told the substance of the allegations.

This whole episode has had a considerable adverse effect upon me resulting in a prolonged period of depression where I was wracked by a self-doubt and unable to work, Quinn wrote in his report. Needless to say I was devastated.

Quinn believed the allegations may have been fuelled by his move to New York to work with the Gotham Knights -” a predominantly gay team.

I have very strong views on the issues of sexuality and inappropriate sexual behaviour; they are the exact opposite of what [these people] would like people to believe, he wrote.

On two occasions, apart from the New York team, in the teams I coached I have had two men who identified themselves as gay, and as much as I would have liked to believe it was unnecessary I suggested to both to be circumspect about their sexuality.

The conciliation agreeement between Quinn and NSW Ruby Union called for his re-accrediation as a coach to be considered by a third party unconnected with the sacking, and a letter to be sent to all clubs reinforcing coaches’ code of ethics and complaint handling procedures. In accordance with the agreement, Quinn withdrew his complaint after the letter to clubs was distributed.