Joel Moffat Konofilia protests against the referee during the match against Western Turtles on Monday.

THE head coach of Avaiki Chiefs Joel Moffat Konifilia has been banned for the entire duration of the 2017 Telekom Solomon Cup.

This follows the physical assault of referee George Hugo after the Pool B Solomon Cup match between Avaiki Chiefs and Western Turtles, won 2-1 by the latter.

During the match, Hugo ordered Konifilia off the pitch following the coach’s continues protest from the sideline against the referee amid the alleged ‘controversial’ decisions made on the pitch.

After the match ended, Konifilia physically assaulted the referee as he was on his way to the dressing room.

The decision to have Konifilia banned for the entire duration of the current Solomon Cup tournament came out last night from the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Disciplinary Committee.

Konifilia confirmed to have received the notice of his ban last night and had accepted it.

“Just received my penalty and I fully accept it. However, I will not accept further sanctions from the SIFF disciplinary committee.

“I’m not allowed to participate further in this Solomon Cup. I accept it because I deserve it. It will also heal my relationship with the ref I assaulted.

“Any further action is all politics in SI football, not in the best interest of football development.

“I appeal with Local Organising Committee to not penalise the ref, let me be penalised alone for my unacceptable behaviour,” he stated in a facebook post last night.

Meanwhile, with the absence of Konifilia within the Avaiki Chiefs team for their remaining pool games, the responsible will be handed down to George Brechtifield.

Avaiki Chiefs will take on Malaita Eagles at 1pm this afternoon in Pool B at Lawson Tama.