Angry W'House fans invade field after ref disallows goal

[Mosiah]

Football fracas
Angry W'House fans invade field after ref disallows goal in Bell KO finalBY HOWARD WALKER Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, February 18, 2008


A disallowed goal brought total chaos and an abrupt end to the Western Union/Jackie Bell Knockout final between champions Harbour View at Waterhouse FC at the Mini-Stadium in east Kingston last evening.
Angry Waterhouse spectators protested the referees' decision by invading the field, and police on the scene had to act quickly to restore order. Gunshots also punctuated the evening calm, but it was not immediately clear who fired them. But police officers inside the grounds were seen with their weapons drawn.
Players and officials of both Harbour View and Waterhouse football teams wait around after their Jackie Bell KO final was disrupted by pitch-invading and missile-throwing spectators following a disallowed Waterhouse goal by referee, Karl Tyrell, at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Harbour View were leading the contest 1-0 courtesy of a 33rd minute goal by Kavin Byran, but Waterhouse thought they had levelled the score in the 77th minute from a powerful Damion Powell freekick.
But all hell broke loose after the second assistant referee, Malachi Brown, waived his flag for an infringement and referee Karl Tyrell signalled offside.
Powell's shot flew over the head of Harbour View's goalkeeper, Dwayne Miller, but Irvino English was ruled to be in an offside position, and although he did not touch the ball, he was deemed to have impeded the goalkeeper by blocking his view - hence the ruling.
The Waterhouse players immediately surrounded the assistant referee in protest, before bottles were hurled onto the field sending players and officials scampering for cover.
The game was subsequently halted at approximately 6:45 pm and officially called off at 7:15 pm after a failed attempt by the officials to restart the game and complete the final 13 minutes.
By this time, the players and referees had already changed from their game uniforms.
Match commissary, Anthony Cooke, told the Observer that all he can say at this time is that the match is "officially called off".
Ambassador Stewart Stephenson, president of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), was evidently a distraught man as he tried in vain to bring order to the proceedings.
"Clearly a disappointing termination of what was an excellent football game. This places us as administrators in a difficult situation as to where do you play your games to ensure that whatever spectators do it doesn't impact on the game," said Stephenson.
"We just have to wait on their report (officials) and make a decision after consulting my colleagues sometime tomorrow," he added.

[Me]

Waterhouse and the Mobay fans them really seem to give the most problems when it comes to crowd behavior.

[Mosiah]

Football madness - Gunshots fired, bottles thrown as Jackie Bell KO final ends in pandemonium
published: Monday | February 18, 2008

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter


Assistant referee Malacho Brown (left) points to his face after being escorted to the other side of the grounds by assistant referee Paulette Riley (right) and match inspector Martin Lyn after play was stopped in the Jackie Bell Knock-out final between...
It was a chaotic scene at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night as bottles were hurled on to the pitch and echoing gunshots from just outside the grounds brought the final of the Western Union/Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Jackie Bell KO final at Harbour View Mini Stadium to a premature end.
Spectators streaming out of the stadium and policemen, who thought it necessary to brandish their firearms in the middle of the pitch, were the tell-tale signs that yet another encounter between intense rivals Waterhouse and Harbour View had gone terribly wrong.
With the Stars of the East down to 10 men and clinging to a 1-0 lead, it was a disallowed goal which would have brought the Drewsland team level 13 minutes from time that provided the controversial spark which really saw things boil over.
The Waterhouse fans were deep in celebration when substitute Damion Powell rifled a powerful 77th-minute free kick into the back of the net from just outside the 18-yard area. However, that joy quickly turned to despair when the fans realised their lifeline had been snapped as the goal had not been given, due to an offside call.
Play called back

Harbour View players Christopher Harvey (left) and Jermaine Taylor react as a policeman brandishes his firearm while shots were being fired.
Assistant referee Malacho Brown had raised his flag which saw referee Karl Tyrell - who initially seemed to indicate the goal had scored - call back the play.
According to officials, the call was due to the fact that midfielder Irvino English, who made no contact with either ball or goalkeeper, was deemed to be interfering with the play, by jumping to distract the custodian while in an offside position.
Missiles rained in the direction of both officials and players, which forced them to move towards the pitch exit. KSAFA President Stewart Stephenson was understandably disappointed with the entire affair.
"We hold this competition in honour of our great Jackie (Winthorpe) Bell and it is a shame that things had to end this way," he said. "The public had always given their support to football and we realise that passion can run high but we have to be careful even worldwide not to tarnish the image of a sport we all love."
Stephenson was unable to definitively say what steps would be taken regarding a match replay or sanctions.
Waterhouse coach Wayne Fair-clough, also disappointed with the way things turned out, hopes that matter will be quickly resolved.
"I really didn't like what I saw here today, I don't know what to say, it was just unfortunate," he said.
Judgements
"I'm not really qualified to make a judgements but I hope the powers that be can convene and make a decision which will see football the winner."
Harbour View coach Lenworth Hyde declined to comment on the manner.
Harbour View, who had playmaker Jermaine Hue sent off under rather curious circumstances near the 55th minute, had taken the lead in the 33rd minute, when a ball played through to striker Kavin Bryan from out of midfield seemed to bounce away from both the striker and goalkeeper Maurice Evans who came off his line - to collect. Bryan was, however, credited with the goal.

A Waterhouse official holds bottles in his hand that were thrown on to the pitch by spectators, while one of his players, Desmond Breakenridge, reacts. - photos by Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Spectators scurrying from the stands.

[Mosiah]

So, KSAFA and the sponsors, Western Union, will decide where to go from here. Left up to me, Waterhouse would next play in this competition in the 2009-2010 season. And there would be no replay of this match nor completion of it. Time has long gone for them to take control of their spectators.

About 4 years ago, Waterhouse was on probation, as it were, where one more disruption to a match would have resulted in their expulsion from the premier league. I was at a match at Drewsland during the period and despite the efforts of their management staff, they committed the third of their "3 strikes you're out" offences. You guessed it, nothing happened. Well, it's high time for something to happen.

And to demonstrate the level of crudeness we have descended to, after things had settled down somewhat at Compound last night, a spectator had what appeared to be an epileptic seizure and was being attended to by some people. Someone in the stands shouted to the police nearby to shoot him, as if, why bother trying to rescue this convulsing fool, put him out of his misery. This is the country I call home. I have no idea if the real fool who demonstrated so aptly what an ass he is was a supporter of any side, but I have my opinion.

[Rico]

I'm sick and tired of this indiscipline, at all levels of society, so if football is to take a leadership role in getting our country out of this quagmire, KSAFA and by extension need to take a very firm stand. I like Waterhouse and have even acted in the capacity of medical personnel for them, but, this clubs suporters needsd to be disciplined. To put this in context, waterhouse was on two warnings last season for similar infractions and was to be booted from the Premier League in the event of another. Well heres another and action needs to be taken.

There however is one technicality on which they may get a reprieve. The Jackie Bell KO is a KSAFA competition and not directly run by the JFF so the disciplinary committee it will come up before is that of KSAFA. Waterhouse's disciplinary record in front of that committee may prove either spotless or only sloghtly tainted, and they , technically, may only get off witha slap on the wrist.

That being said I think the wider football fraternity is sickened by these occurrences. On a personal note, I had planned to take my sons to the game and as luck would have it, they fell asleep, and with overcast skies I opted not to go. If football fans can't take their families to a game and be assure of safety howcan the leagues grow into marketable entities. I think the JFF needs to step in and act for that reason. More Anon.

[Mosiah]

Can you imagine if you had taken your sons!

I would doubt very much if Waterhouse has some immaculate record with any committee. KSAFA operates under the jurisdiction of JFF, and for that matter, JFF needs to act firmly. I can't remember going to a football match where there was so much mayhem. People ran onto the field trying to escape thru HV's grandstand area, only for HV to close that area. We were stranded in the infield not knowing what to do.

The good management of Waterhouse needs to demonstrate to their supporters their disgust with their behaviour and forfeit the match forthwith. They are going to have to start weeding out the miscreants from their midst.

[Hortical]

How about Waterhouse forfeiting the results of this match, and be forced to play all their matches away from their home field in an empty venue.

[Mosiah]

That would be a good start. Something must be done and now!

[Gamma]

football players and refs can now apply for asylum in canada?