Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

Burrell and Stewart

THE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) has overruled the decision of its Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) affiliate and awarded title-holders Harbour View the Western Union Jackie Bell KO title.

It also upheld the $75,000 fine imposed on Waterhouse Football Club and "... deplored KSAFA for failing to take firm and decisive action".

The final was aborted in chaotic fashion on Sunday night following a second bout of bottle throwing - amid protests for a disallowed Waterhouse goal; then the sound of gunfire from the hills overlooking the stadium that sent fans scam-pering.

A bottle-throwing incident had taken place earlier when Harbour View midfielder Jermaine Hue was red carded in the 55th minute.

At the time of the final disruption, with 15 minutes left on the clock, Harbour View led 1-0.

The KSAFA Council, headed by its president, Stewart Stephenson, wasted no time in dealing with the matter in a meeting involving both clubs the following night.

Arising from the deliberations, Waterhouse were fined $75,000 for the unruly behaviour of their supporters, invading the field of play, throwing missiles on to the grounds and verbally abusing the referees.

The KSAFA Council had also decided on a continuation of the final from the 75th minute, which had actually been scheduled for yesterday evening at Tivoli Gardens' Edward Seaga Sports Complex, without spectators.

Unanimous decision

However, the island's ruling body for the sport, the JFF, held a meeting among its board of directors on Thursday and, according to a release signed by its president, Captain Horace Burrell, "... unanimously decided to overturn the decision of KSAFA with respect to the continuation of the game".

Further, it stated: "The game will not be continued and has been awarded to Harbour View Football Club. The fine of $75,000 imposed against Waterhouse Football Club remains."

It added: "The decision by the board is in furtherance of the principle that violence in football by spectators, team members or team officials will not be tolerated nor condoned in any manner and where culpability is determined, the harshest possible penalties will be applied to the offending party or parties."

Captain Burrell pointed out to The Gleaner yesterday that the JFF had requested the report on the findings to review the matter.

"The mere fact that they (KSAFA) fined them $75,000, it means they're saying they are wrong. If they're wrong, then you have to deal with the matter according to the rules, you can't do it halfway. It's like giving a penalty without issuing a card."

Top executives of both clubs reacted positively to the altered ruling.

Waterhouse chairman, Bruce Bicknell, said: "I have no problem with that ruling. The fact is we were wrong."

Bicknell tendered a public apology, on behalf of the club, in an article carried yesterday in The Gleaner, to the Bell family, in whose honour the competition is held, the sponsors, KSAFA, Harbour View FC and the football fraternity in general.

Bicknell apologises

While accepting the punishment meted out to his club, Bicknell had expressed disappointment earlier with the KSAFA ruling on the basis that it was biased, giving his view that Harbour View should also have been penalised. He had also lashed out at its president, Stephenson, but apologised in yester-day's interview with The Gleaner.

"I don't want the people to get the wrong message that he's a bad guy. He's a volunteer, he's not paid to do the job and I apologise for what I'd said about Stewart," said Bicknell. "Stewart Stephenson is a good friend of mine and he has dedicated a tremendous amount of his time to football in Jamaica and although angry at the ruling, my intention was not to personally attack Stewart.

"In fact, I've invited him to be the guest speaker on many occasions at functions and he's a man of high integrity."

He added: "Our fans' behaviour was atrocious and that's what really cost us ... and not the referee's decision. We need to stop this nonsense once and for all. It damages all the positives that we're looking to create in Waterhouse on a daily basis. They should not come to the games if they can't respect the referees' decisions."

Stephenson, an Attorney-at-law, had tackled the 'biased' notion as incorrect in the same Gleaner story, based on evidence presented at Monday's hearing and the fact that "at least six members of council were present and all decisions taken were unanimous".

PROFOUND MESSAGE

Responding to the JFF verdict, Carvel Stewart, chairman of Harbour View FC who have lifted the title for the second straight year, said: "I did say that I disagreed with KSAFA's ruling, I said it on Monday publicly on radio. I believe we must be honest at all times.

"The JFF ruling would have sent a much more profound message to the people who were throwing bottles directly, and the leadership of the club who work hard to ensure that the people, who by their actions, are destroying the club's football. That action is destroying Waterhouse's football specifically, and generally, Jamaica's football," noted Stewart, a KSAFA vice-president who was also hit with bottles, along with fellow club executive Michael Jureidini, when they were removing bottles from the pitch.

"My concern is we must say to the people who mash up the game that we're not tolerating you. I don't care where you're from," Stewart added. "They must have them disassociated from the club and go somewhere else and let the club grow."