Report: Reclink Community Cup founder banished after allegations of 150 volunteers

As the first of this year’s Reclink Community Cup charity football match takes place in Melbourne this weekend, its founder Jason Evans will not be there.

A report in The Age says he has been banished from the match after allegations of harassment and bullying were made against him by 150 volunteers.

There were accusations of “volatile and explosive behaviour” and there would be a “mass boycott” by the volunteers if he appears on the grounds.

Reclink chief executive John Ballis emailed the volunteers on June 1 to say he had “instructed Jason Evans effective immediately to step down and cease participating in or attending any Rockdogs and Reclink Community Cup”, including training, matches and using the Rockdogs brand.

An independent consultant has been hired to review the allegations and address the issues.

Evans says that Reclink has not given him a copy of the volunteers’ letter – which The Age has seen, and said had 27 complaints about his alleged behaviour, and 90 names who will not participate in the game if Evans is there.

He says he will only address the allegations once he has seen the letter, adding there has been a social media campaign against him.