- Charmaine AustinCorporal Leslie Taffe, who was injured.
Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter
STONES rained like confetti at a Manning Cup semi-final match in Constant Spring, St. Andrew, yesterday, as spectators hurled at the police.
When the dust settled, one spectator was rushed to hospital, a policeman was nursing a nasty gash to his head and blood mixed with splinters from a baton remained on the open field.
The match was being played between Spanish Town High and Charlie Smith Comprehensive schools.
While attempting to collect entry fees at the gate, the lawmen were accused of injuring football fans including former national player, Kevin 'Pele' Wilson.
Wilson, who was hit in the head and on other parts of his body by a policeman wielding a baton, was rushed to hospital.
Manager of the Constant Spring complex, Neville Lyn, said the incident started when the police left their post and decided to man the big gate, "... collecting tickets and all that. That was not their job. Their job was crowd control. It could have been prevented. I was trying to tell the police Inspector what to do regarding the running of the gate but he didn't bother to listen. He said it was my problem."
According to Mr. Lyn, "The crowd got out of hand as everyone wanted to get in to see the games. There was pushing and boring, the police tried to control the crowd but couldn't."
He said well-known footballers are usually allowed to enter the premises for free and the demand for fees by the police was at the root of the problem.
