Prendergast By Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
THE Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA) is in a militant mood following attacks on its members in recent weeks.
In a letter to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) yesterday, assistant general secretary of the JFRA, Martin Lyn, said members of the association will immediately withdraw their services from the National Premier League (NPL) until the safety and security of its members can be guaranteed.
According to Lyn, a number of abuses have been levelled against referees recently climaxing with referee Clive Wright having his tyres slashed on Sunday last at the end of a game between Constant Spring and Tivoli Gardens at Constant Spring. This the letter stated had forced the association to act.
"...It is imperative that we take necessary action to prevent a fatality. We are not going to wait for them to kill any of our members..," the letter said.
The JFRA also noted that there was no condemnation of the attacks by the JFF.
Contacted last night JFRA vice president and FIFA referee Peter Prendergast however, distanced himself from Lyn's letter.
"It was never said that we would be putting down our whistles and then talk. Putting down our whistles is a last resort. So this is definitely misleading and I am going to have this letter withdrawn.
"I was the one who discussed the matter in a meeting on Tuesday and this is a misrepresentation of what we agreed to. As the vice-president, the president is not around, I am going to act accordingly," Prendergast told the Gleaner.
When the Gleaner tried to speak with the JFF general secretary Horace Reid he responded through his secretary that: "he cannot speak on the matter until he has all the facts."
Hours later a release was sent by the JFF which condemned the attacks against football officials. The release said the attacks go directly to the heart of the game, and put the continued existence of the game under threat.
The JFF also used the release to summon a number of teams and coaches to a disciplinary meeting today at 2:00pm. Coaches Peter Cargill of Harbour View and Christopher Bender of Hazard are to answer charges about comments made on January 14 and 31 respectively.
Constant Spring and Tivoli Gardens have been called up because of last Sunday's disturbance and violence while Central Link will have to explain the constant absence of a public address system at games. Three clubs, Brazil, Village United and Black Stars football club will be required to settle a dispute regarding the transfer of Ewan Walden.
Seba United will answer charges for failing to report for their game against Hazard last Sunday when angry fans slashed the tyres of the team bus.
