Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková takes leave amid investigation into employment matter
Sunday, 26 May 2024
Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková has taken leave amid an investigation into an employment-related matter.
In her absence, assistant coach Michael Mayne will take charge of the team for their upcoming friendlies against Japan.
The upheaval comes two months out from the start of the Ferns’ campaign at the Paris Olympics.
Jitka Klimková's future as Football Ferns coach was thrown into doubt on Sunday, on the eve of the second-to-last international window before the Paris Olympics.
New Zealand Football announced in a mid-afternoon statement that Klimková would not be taking charge of the team in the international window that starts on Monday, where they have a pair of friendlies against Japan in Spain.
It said Klimková had 'opted to take a leave of absence from the role' of Ferns coach 'while an investigation is concluded into an employment related matter'.
No further details of the employment matter were provided and the news appeared to come as a surprise to many in the local football community, with details in short supply.
Klimková has been in charge of the Ferns since October 2021 and has overseen 39 matches, for a total of 11 wins, seven draws and 21 losses.
She was appointed on a six-year contract that was set to run until the end of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
When Stuff spoke to Klimková at NZ Football’s Auckland office after she named her squad for the Japan matches on Tuesday, she was preparing to leave for Spain on Thursday, and nothing seemed amiss.
Stuff has asked NZ Football for more detail, such as when the investigation began, whether it was prompted by a complaint from a Ferns player or players or by someone else, and when it was expected to be concluded.
NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell and NZ Professional Footballers’ Association chair Harry Ngata both told Stuff they had nothing more to add.
Klimková has also been contacted for comment.
In its original statement, NZ Football said the organisation and Ferns players and staff would 'not be making any further comment on the matter until the investigation is concluded'.
The Ferns play the first of two matches against Japan at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia, on Spain's southern coast, on Friday local time (Saturday 2am NZ time). They then meet again the following Monday (Tuesday 2am NZ time).
In Klimková's absence, assistant coach Michael Mayne will take charge of the Ferns, who are coming off a 4-0 win and a 0-0 draw against Thailand at home in Christchurch in early April.
These matches were set to be the Ferns' last before Klimková named her squad for the Olympics, consisting of 18 players as well as four travelling reserves.
At the Olympics, the Ferns are set to start by playing defending gold medallists Canada in Nice – exactly two months on from this Sunday – then will face Colombia and hosts France.