New Jersey girls' soccer coach suspended for playoff game after champagne bottle celebration
A girls' soccer coach in New Jersey in the United States has been suspended for a playoff game after a video showed her popping a champagne bottle on school property while celebrating her 100th career win.
Paul VI coach Karen Anderson reached her 100th career win with a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame in the South Jersey, Non-Public A quarterfinals. The video showed her popping the bottle on school property after the game.
Anderson told NJ.com that she did not drink from the bottle, which was bought and given by parents of members of the team. She did not say whether the bottle contained alcohol.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) rulebook states that players and coaches involved with alcohol, tobacco or illegal substances during or after the game at the game site or on school property, including chartered buses, shall be suspended from NJSIAA tournament play for one year and be denied any championship rights.
By that measure, Anderson's punishment looks rather lenient.
Anderson said she was "not surprised" that the video was coming to light "given our success."
"It's really unfortunate that there are people out there looking for an opportunity to ruin all the hard work that I've put into this program," she said. The video has since been deleted from social media.
"There sure are a lot of people that would look for a target to take an opportunity," Anderson added. "It's really unfortunate that somebody will find that one opportunity to jump on and try to take down everything that you have put into this."
Paul VI said Friday in a statement: "While Coach Anderson did not consume the contents of the bottle, Paul VI does not condone this behavior and recognizes the importance of upholding the standards of conduct expected of our coaches."
Paul VI's girls' soccer team is the top-ranked team in the state and is two wins away from clinching its third-consecutive Non-Public A state championship.
