Mark Philippoussis has defended confronting an opposition coach after an under-12s basketball match on the Surf Coast, insisting he was acting to protect players and teenage referees.
The former tennis star told the Herald Sun he approached the coach on Monday night over his behaviour.
“I said you have a responsibility as a coach and as a parent. Our kids play on the same rep team and I was just a dad protecting the kids. I was bewildered as a parent that he didn’t know better. The referees were teenagers and doing their best,” Philippoussis said.
Former Geelong captain Cameron Ling, whose son also played, intervened to defuse the situation, telling Philippoussis “it’s not worth it.”
Ling later stressed: “I hope there’s no suggestion of aggression. It was a post-match discussion and I just thought it had gone on long enough and steered them away.”
Philippoussis admitted he should have raised the issue in private but emphasised there was “no swearing, no yelling” and that his priority was ensuring “kids compete in a safe environment.”
The match ended in a one-point margin. Both clubs have been contacted for comment, with one team president saying he was unaware of the incident.
Source: Herald Sun.
