The Minnesota Thunder Academy executive board removed Mark Abboud as the club's technical director after he ordered the players on his under-12 Thunder East team to miss their penalty kicks on purpose so their opponents, the favored U-13 Thunder, could win, which happened.

Abboud had said before the game he would do what he did if the game was decided on penalties, though he did so without consulting the club's directors.

Due mainly to the request of the U-12 players and their families, Abboud retained his current role as coach of the Thunder East U-12 team through the 2008-2009 season, unless a sanction by a governing body makes continuing in such a role impossible.

Click here for the Thunder executive committee's decision.