Teams warned about security preparation as Manning Cup continues

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Denham Town’s Leroy Smith (left) and Wolmer’s Boys’ Zachary Brown challenge for the ball during the Manning Cup contest at St Andrew Technical playfield on September 13, 2024. Wolmer’s won 2-0. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Competitions Officer Ewan Scott says home teams are at risk of losing points if adequate security isn’t in place ahead of the continuation of the urban Digicel Manning Cup on Monday.

Strike action by the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA) led to the cancellation of all games scheduled for Saturday in the rural daCosta Cup following recent incidents in which match officials faced physical abuse from players and spectators.

The most high-profile incident occurred after Dinthill Technical’s 1-1 draw with McGrath High on September 21 led to ISSA banning two Dinthill players for confronting and allegedly assaulting the referee.

The country’s football governing body, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), supported the JFRA actions in a statement released on Sunday.

“The referees are an integral part of football development, and they should not feel threatened in any way when performing their duties. The JFF supports the decision for them not to participate in any ISSA Schoolboy Football matches until they can be assured of their safety. Any further incidents will have more consequential action,” said JFF General Secretary Dennis Chung.

The Manning Cup wasn’t affected by the strike, as no games were scheduled for Saturday. There were concerns that today’s games wouldn’t be played, but ISSA and the JFRA reached an agreement, which meant games would go ahead as normal.

Four games will be played in the urban area competition today, with Eltham, Wolmer’s, St Jago, and Tivoli Gardens the designated home teams.

Scott says it’s the schools’ priority to ensure sufficient security is in place for the matches to go ahead.

“The rule was always there that before the match starts there should be two uniformed police officers along with additional security. Or [if] in the opinion of the referee the security officers that are there are adequate, then the game can be played. So it’s a matter of enforcing the rules and the referees checking to see what is in place before starting the game,” Scott told the Observer .

The ISSA competitions officer said away teams will be awarded all three points if the home teams fail to adhere to the rules.

“It’s the referee’s call as to whether the game is played. If the referee deems that there is insufficient security based on the minimum amount of security personnel, then he has the right not to do the game and the home team would have forfeited the game because it’s the home team’s responsibility to provide security at matches,” he said.

MONDAY’S GAMES

Eltham vs Hydel @ Hydel

Wolmer’s vs Denham Town @ Mico

Tivoli Gardens vs Edith Dalton James @ Tivoli Gardens

St Jago vs St Mary’s College @ St Jago

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