KEARNY, N.J. (AP) A Little League coach was suspended amid accusations he told his team to intentionally lose a game to a crosstown rival.

Larry Davidson, who coached the Kearny National All-Stars in a district tournament last month, was suspended for making "inappropriate comments" that his players might have misinterpreted.

Davidson is barred from being a head coach for one season and is not permitted to be an all-star coach for two seasons. He can remain with his team next season as an assistant coach.

Several Little League players claimed Davidson and another coach, Justin Raia, asked them to intentionally lose a game to the Kearney American All-Stars last month.

The National team took an early 4-3 lead, before the Americans came back to win 16-4.

The National players said their coaches wanted the American team to have a better chance to win the district tournament, but the squad was eliminated in their next game.

Both coaches denied telling the players to lose the July 12 game.

"They asked us, 'What do you want to do with the Kearny game? Do you want to blow it or do you want to play?"' infielder Mike Capelao was quoted in The Star-Ledger of Newark. "I didn't say anything. But then at the game, all of the kids were like 'We want to win!"'

Davidson said Tuesday that he realized that his players might have misunderstood him.

"I contend that my comments were taken out of context, but I do not offer that as an excuse," Davidson said in a prepared statement. "The game was played fairly and honestly, on this we all agree."

Tony Carratura, the president of Kearny Little League, said the league's probe found "no credible evidence" to take action against Raia, who declined to comment.

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