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Manukau Utd heap shame on league’s development rule

Sometimes you don’t have to break the rules to be in the wrong. Manukau United exploited a loophole rather than violating the laws of New Zealand Football’s National League, with two shameful substitutions 13 seconds into their controversial 3-2 win over Takapuna AFC in Auckland last Saturday.

But sportsmanship, ethics and living up to their own mission statements of proudly providing pathways for juniors, were all booted into touch by Manukau United in a sad moment for the competition that is meant to have a focus on development for younger players.

A quick catch up for anyone who missed this 13s of madness, that thrust the middle finger up to the spirit of the beautiful game. Manukau United controversially replaced their two required under-20 players at the first stoppage.

National League rules stipulate each team must start a minimum of two under-20 players – an NZF rule introduced in 2021 in an effort to help with youth development. But, the rule has no regulations around playing minutes.

Maybe because NZF was confident a mature approach would be taken and that managers who are guardians of the game and their club’s development, would put their players first. If that was the case, its trust has been burnt, badly.

Sport is about winning, let’s not lose sight of that, but surely these substitutions could have been made later in the half?

Manukau United manager Rudy Mozr justified his decision, in a club video, due to so many players being away. ‘‘We had to do it,’’ he said. While arguing against Mozr’s statement would be easier than Chris Wood slotting goals against an under-9 side, in Mozr’s defence, Covid-19 remains a real threat for sporting teams.

Manukau’s game scheduled for Saturday against Hamilton Wanderers has been postponed due to an outbreak in the Wanderers’ squad.

But 13 seconds? Really? Regardless of whether the two young players, Leo Hall and Caleb Prasad, knew what was going to happen or not, how do you reckon their confidence is tracking?

Much was made of the two players that replaced Hall and Prasad, Thomas Golding and Maro Bonsu-Maro, scoring all three of Manukau’s goals but to offer some context, to a situation

If they don’t act hard and fast, all credibility is lost when NZF starts talking about pathways for young players.

that should have been handled with some common sense, none of Manukau’s goals came until after halftime.

So what was the rush again? To be unequivocally clear, Manukau United did not break any rules but if you think that makes it a non-issue, maybe jump on the blower and ask the club to update what they supposedly stand for.

From Manukau United’s Facebook page: ‘‘We inspire football everyday through the provision of quality grassroots community football to high level talent pathways, and influencing our sport to fulfil it’s potential and become truly inclusive.’’

Or try this from their website where the club promotes equity: ‘‘Manukau United Football Club is a partnership club representing South Auckland communities at the highest levels of NZ Football and providing grassroots community football promotion and engagement linking to talent pathways for juniors, youth and senior players.’’

To its credit New Zealand Football has found that Manukau United acted outside the spirit of fair play and breached NZF’s code of conduct.

The club has been fined $500 for bringing the National League and NZF into disrepute and Mozr has been suspended for a game for breaching the code of conduct.

What is still needed though is a rule change to stop any further breaches. If they don’t act hard and fast, all credibility is lost when NZF starts talking about pathways for young players, much like Manukau United’s.