“We were wrong”
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - The football fraternity in St. Kitts had mixed reactions when months ago, the Delphic United Newtown Football team walked off the football field during a match, in protest to decisions/calls made by match officials.
More recently, the Disciplinary Committee of the St. Kitts Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) – having met to discuss the issue – took disciplinary action against specific members of the team and according to the team’s management, it accepts the committee’s ruling.
The incident transpired on June 12, with the team was competing against S. L. Horsford’s St. Pauls in the Digicel Final Four Premier Division Competition. During that match, two calls were made against Newtown, with which the players and reportedly the coach were in disagreement.
The calls led to – according to reports – the players surrounding a particular linesman while loudly hurling expletives at him. Following intervention by members of the Drug Squad, the Delphic United players reportedly vacated the field resulting in premature ending of the game.
A recent release issued by the SKNFA indicates that its Disciplinary Committee met approximately one month later to discuss the matter – among others – and decided that all members of the Delphic United Newtown Football Team who vacated the field during the game, are suspended.
“All players of Delphic Newtown United who would have left the field prematurely in the match Delphic Newtown United versus SL Horsford St. Pauls on 12th June 2011 {Zevon Archibald, Akil Byron, Avalon Mc Call, Oldain Powell, Shashi Isaac, Jason Isaac, Keithroy Saddler, Dylon Ferdinand, Elcardo Jacobs, Ian Lake, Kareem Mitchum, Derrick Mills (Team Official)} are jointly suspended for the first five games of the next league.
The release continues that, “This sanction will also extend to members of Management of Delphic Newtown United present on the bench at the time of the walk off pursuant to Article 11 (b) of the FIFA Code.”
While the sanctions affect specific players and team officials present at the time of the incident, another clause in the decision speaks to the club’s forfeiture of award money.
“Further, pursuant to Article 16 of the FIFA Code, the SKNFA has decided the team Delphic Newtown United would forfeit the award, in particular the sum of the EC$1500.00 as provided in the local rules and regulations.”
Manager of the team, Dr. Mark Hodge, in a brief interview with SKNVibes explained that the team accepts whatever decision the Disciplinary Committee makes “because we were in the wrong”.
The portion of the SKNFA’s press release which speaks to the Delphic United Newtown Football Team reads as follows:
“IN THE MATTER of Delphic Newtown United
Based on the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee, it is the decision of the SKNFA that;
All players of Delphic Newtown United who would have left the field prematurely in the match Delphic Newtown United versus SL Horsford St. Pauls on 12th June 2011 are jointly suspended for the first five (5) games of the next league. This sanction will also extend to members of Management of Delphic Newtown United present on the bench at the time of the walk off pursuant to Article 11 (b) of the FIFA Code.
Further, pursuant to Article 16 of the FIFA Code, the SKNFA has decided the team Delphic Newtown United would forfeit the award, in particular the sum of the EC$1500.00 as provided in the local rules and regulations.
The names of the players suspended are as follows;
1. Zevon Archibald
2. Akil Byron
3. Avalon Mc Call
4. Oldain Powell
5. Shashi Isaac
6. Jason Isaac
7. Keithroy Saddler
8. Dylon Ferdinand
9. Elcardo Jacobs
10. Ian Lake
11. Kareem Mitchum
12. Derrick Mills (Team Official)”
