Nodley Wright, Freeelance Writer
Referee Peter Prendergast of Jamaica left) and his assistant Alexandro Jimenez (right) run to protect themselves from objects being thrown by fans of Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa after the match during the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Champions' Cup semi-final second leg soccer match at Ricardo Saprissa stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 29. Toluca lost 3-2 but advance to the final after both teams finished the two legs 4-3 on aggregate. - REUTERS
Opponents of the 'beautiful game' will find no peace in the upcoming season of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League according to Peter Prendergast, president of the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA).
Prendergast, who made the final cut of 23 referees to officiate in the recently-concluded World Cup but could not do so because of a knee injury, said a similar 'zero tolerance" which operated in the World Cup, will be adapted for the upcoming season.
"I am sending a warning out that referees in Jamaica, as mandated by FIFA, will be clamping down on dirty and illegal plays, elbows and tackles of a disproportionate level. These will be met by a zero tolerance.
FAIR GAME
"The same goes for disparaging remarks. The objective is to encourage the beautiful game to flourish. The talented players in defense, in attack, or wherever must flourish and this is not meant to change the image of the game," said Prendergast, who played at the schoolboy and later the club level.
Like most lovers of the game, Prendergast said he wants to see the game play in a tough, but fair manner.
"I want to see a hard, physical game because football is a contact sport, but noone going in over the top. At the opposite end we also intend to get rid of cynical play. Fortunately we do not have a lot of simulation (diving) in Jamaica," he added.
ZIDANE INCIDENT
Disparaging and abusive behaviour both on the field and in the stands have been allowed to grow in Jamaica's football for far too long with not enough being done to stamp it out.
The incident involving the Italian Matteo Materrazzi and the Frenchman Zsinedine Zidane in which Zidane felled the Italian with a headbut after he was allegedly abused could not have been more timely.
"I am looking at the positive side of the Zidane incident. I am not happy that it happened to him but that it happened to a renowned player because had it not been such a player it would not have created the impact it did. We're now focusing on the damage such behaviour can cause to the game," Prendergast explained.
Curbing the problem in Jamaica will require club owners and executives living up to their responsibilities, according Prendergast.
"The clubs need to be more responsible and to be held accountable for the action of their players. In the past we have seen cases where managers are aware of their supporters and others abusing players, referees and others without getting involved,Ó explained Prendergast, who added that steps were taken to correct the problem before with the introduction of security bibs at matches.
That measure, he explained, has not worked as club officials are still leaving it up to the referees to do their jobs for them.
"A referee should not have to leave the field or halt a game to get things done," he said adamantly.
STILL HOPEFUL
Despite what he sees as a struggle, Prendergast is convinced that the changes will eventually be embraced.
"People like to use the word can't but I don't. There was once the situation where every other goal that was scored was celebrated with the taking off of the shirt. It does not happen anymore.
"The same way that that was dealt with with consistent and strong action, this can be dealt with in a similar way too. It takes the collective will and effort," he concluded.
