Boxhill
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
THE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) has summoned all 12 participating teams in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) to an emergency meeting tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the issue of discipline.
It is not surprising that the sport's governing body here with a newly-elected executive headed by president Crenston Boxhill has called this meeting as there has been an upsurge of violent incidents at matches in both the JFF-run Premier and Under-21 national leagues recently.
The latest incident occurred on Sunday at Jarrett Park where Seba United's Under-21 player, Alton Shaw, was arrested on counts of using abusive language, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest after being red carded for fighting Harbour View's Kevin Woolery, who had also been sent off.
Shaw was reported to have attacked the referee after getting his marching orders, then moved towards the Harbour View bench. The report stated that police at the match intervened, but Shaw extended his bad behaviour towards them, a move which led to his arrest.
The game was aborted due to that incident, which took place in the 65th minute.
Only several weeks before, a Premier League match between Reno and Seba United at Frome was also aborted after it degenerated into a brawl, with almost five minutes remaining.
Four players from the visiting Seba United team were reportedly hospitalised after that incident which also involved spectators.
In another bizarre incident, the manager of Trelawny newcomers Invaders, Oliver Warren, was banned for life after admitting guilt to the severe beating of three players who wanted to be released from the club.
Individual issues involving the refusal of Waterhouse's leading striker, Kevin Lamey, to be substituted in a game televised live on a national station also make up the list.
Meanwhile, an extraordinary St. Ann FA congress has been set for January 11 and the green light has been given to all football except Super League matches in the parish to resume after the November 28 shutdown.
The shutdown was done after several letters of resignation from the St. Ann FA's officers, resulting from a motion of no confidence moved by affiliates at their annual general meeting.
An interim executive led by Eastern Confederation head Raymond Grant has run the association's business since and has set the date for an extraordinary Congress, at which a new executive will be elected.
