BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALMOST two weeks since members of Delphic Newtown United FC had demonstrated immaturity and lack of sportsmanship in their Final Four Premier Division match against SL Horsford’s St. Paul’s FC, no disciplinary action has been taken by the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA).
“Is Newtown off the hook?” That is the question being asked by many football fans.
On Sunday, June 12, 2011, early in the second half of a match between the two teams, St. Paul’s were awarded a penalty after a Newtown’s player handled the ball in the box.
Javeim ‘Veemy’ Blanchette took the penalty, but the Newtown goalkeeper dove to his left and clutched the ball in safe hands. The referee however blew his whistle, signalling that it was an illegal save because a linesman indicated that the goalkeeper came off the line before the penalty was taken.
Seemingly disenchanted, a very angry Newtown coach exited the technical area cursing the referee and linesmen about their lack of knowledge and understanding of the game.
The referee retaliated by ordering the coach to the stands. He refused but shortly after complied.
This incident followed with Blanchette taking his second shot at the goal, but the ball was once again in the safe hands of the goalkeeper.
However, as it was in Blanchette’s first attempt, the same linesman flagged the goalkeeper, indicating that he once more committed an infringement of the rule.
The now angry and frustrated Newtown players surrounded the linesman and were loudly using expletives, while their fans threw many bottles and stones at him.
Members of the Drug Squad were on hand and immediately intervened, but the Newtown players refused to continue playing and exited the field immaturely as instructed by their coach.
In an attempt to gain information from Newtown’s coach on the reason for his team’s behaviour, he angrily walked away saying, “D referee dem too f#%*> stupid and cheat, a mus do fu dem.”
From this backdrop, SKNVibes contacted Delphic Newtown United FC’s President, Dr. Mark Hodge, to find out what action was taken by management concerning the team’s misbehaviour.
Dr. Hodge said he was not interested in having two sides of the incident and stressed that no club official had instructed the players to walk off the field.
“My manager and coach told me that they had no involvement in instructing the players to come off the field as they were sent to the stands by the referee,” he said.
Contrary to his statement, this media house was on hand to take pictures of the staff and substitute players on the bench instructing the players to go off the field.
When informed of this, Dr. Hodge said it was news to him because he never knew his players were instructed by staff and substitutes to exit the field of play.
However, when asked why he never confirmed with the referee, linesmen or fourth official what his staff members said, Dr. Hodge became angry and said that he is not going to doubt his staff and he wanted no two sides of the story.
“I was at the game and what I saw was that a number of the players walked off the field and some stayed back who actually shook the hands of the St. Paul’s players. But with the majority of the players walking off the field, they had no choice but to leave also, showing that united we stand, and this was confirmed by the players themselves.” Dr. Hodge said.
SKNVibes learnt that the players of Delphic Newtown United FC were ordered by Dr. Hodge to do community service while they await word from the SKNFA.
