Decadence and depravity can be found also with these '99 Colorado coaches-
Rocky Mountain News
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Youth soccer leaders fight
On-field battle lands one in jail
By Bianca Prieto, Rocky Mountain News
October 3, 2006
A shouting match between two youth soccer coaches escalated into an on-field fistfight that landed one in jail and left the other bloodied.
Parents were forced to rush the field to break up the fight during the game between two Real Colorado league 7-and-under girls soccer teams Saturday morning in Highlands Ranch.
Assistant coach David Cunningham, 43, was arrested at his home after the game and charged with misdemeanor third- degree assault.
Cunningham is accused of punching opposing coach Michael Wright, 39, during the game at Highland Heritage Regional Park, 9651 S. Quebec St.
Wright declined to comment Monday, and Cunningham could not be reached.
A Douglas County Sheriff's Office report gives the following account:
Wright and Cunningham were standing near each other on the sidelines when Wright crossed the midline onto the opposing team's side of the field.
Wright was urging his players to get into a defensive position when Cunningham told him to stop yelling and to get back on his side of the field.
Wright told police that Cunningham "approached him aggressively" and "got in his face."
Wright called Cunningham a vulgar name and began to walk away. Cunningham followed and punched Wright several times in the face.
Cunningham told police that he was defending himself because Wright "chest bumped" him after calling him the name.
After the fight, Cunningham left the field but later called police.
Cunningham was arrested and taken to the Douglas County Jail, where he posted $1,750 bail and was released.
The men are volunteer coaches with Real Colorado, a not-for-profit soccer league sponsored by -Nike and formerly known as the Douglas County Soccer Association.
Cunningham was suspended until a meeting can be held this week to determine his future with the club, said Jared Spires, director of operations for Real Colorado.
"We have a no-tolerance policy" for this type of behavior, Spires said. Discipline can "vary from coaches or families being removed or suspended, depending on the severity of the actions," he added.
Copyright 2006, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
