Youth League Football Coach Speaks Out

Tony Warneke was apprehensive about doing an interview. But he agreed because he wanted everyone to know what he was thinking then and how sorry he is now.

It started as a heated football game between 11-year olds. But it was what happened after the game that had parent, Joe Deavenport upset.

He says, "They said look we want you to calm down, we don't want you to do anything rash, but we need to show you this because we actually caught it on videotape."

As the players and coaches shake hands down the line, Deavenport's son Wesley, appears to be shoved by the opposing team's coach.

Deavenport says, "I dialed 911 within two minutes after seeing it because I was not going to stand for that kind of thing."

The coach in question, Tony Warneke believes the incident has been taken out of context and is now out of control.

This is how it started, he says, "One of the kids coming at me was saying you suck and coming at our players. When he got close he said you blanking suck. And I reached out and shoved him and said knock it off now."

He says that shove was no more and no less than what he would have done with his own son.

Warneke says, "With that kind of language and that kind of poor sportsmanship going on if my own son who does play on my team had acted that way, I would have expected another coach to do the same thing. I certainly would not have had a problem with it. In fact my son probably would have been grounded for the week."

The Park Rock Football association deliberated and says they're asking Warneke to resign from the league. President of the Executive Committee, Chris Hageman says, "In our opinion, nothing that could have happened during the game could have justified that kind of reaction."

Still Warneke is upset. He feels the outcome could have and should have been different. He says, "It's one thing to have interaction like that with my kids. Probably out of line to do it with their kids. And I do apologize for that. I'm sorry about the whole incident and I haven't had an opportunity to apologize to anybody that matters though."

The Deavenports are skeptical of this version of events. And they say the apology is too little too late.

Joe Deavenport says, "An adult no matter whether you're a man or a woman should not be reaching out and physically touching someone else's child in this matter, ever. It's infuriating."

While the league is asking Warneke to resign, he says that's news to him. He says he's been told no such thing.

Chesterfield police are also investigating this incident.