Mark McGovern: ‘Forgiveness is in my heart but I want justice’

Regarding my previous comment, I apologize for misspelling your name. It should be Colkelley, not Colkenny.

Colkenny, your post is very troubling. I coached Soccer at the Youth, High School, and College levels for over 25 years and I NEVER encountered the type of behavior you describe. To call it "not uncommon" is a bit over the top. I must believe that your comments are true at least as far as you believe. I would only say that there were avenues for you to have your concerns addressed by the appropriate authorities. Unfortunately, in today's "win at all cost" environment, there probably are coaches who would encourage this type of behavior just to WIN or intimidate the other team and there are Referees who do not see these acts during the game and may even be ignoring them, but you had recourse to this type of behavior and only have yourself to blame for not doing something. You should have gone to your Son's League and the Referees Association post haste. If either of them was non-responsive to video evidence, then I would say it is time to visit the Police as you yourself suggest. What you describe has no place in sports. If you did nothing just to preserve your Son's position on the team when you could have pulled him off the team, then you are culpable as well. I truly hope your Son is doing fine. Merry Christmas.

Unfortunately this is not uncommon in American soccer. My son made the transition from never having played soccer at age 13 to being on the State Olympic Development Team by age 16 and I cannot count the number of times that players FOLLOWING THEIR COACHES ORDERS either tried to spear him in the head or slide tackle with a foot to the knee. While he played he suffered a complete dislocation of the right knee (off the ball), knocked out with an elbow to the head (off the ball) and an evulsion fracture of the left tibia (retaliation). NONE of these offenses earned the other players a red card or even a yellow card. Look to the coaches because they are the source of these violent and dangerous player actions. These violent acts - if video evidence is available - should be taken to local law enforcement and pursued as felony assault because the Leagues (even when presented video evidence) do absolutely nothing to discourage or limit the violent players. Violence is substituted for talent.