Spectators celebrating on the playing field after their team had scored a goal in the Jamaica College versus Wolmer's Boys Manning Cup match on October 17. - file

The decision by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) to award points to Jamaica College following the refusal by Wolmer's Boys to continue the Manning Cup match at Old Hope Road on October 17 needs to be revisited.

A rethink is needed, not to overturn the decision but to mount a probe into whether players from visiting, or home, schools are being attacked or threatened with injury during the now-frequent invasions of the playing field whenever a goal is scored at most school grounds.

Many years ago, I watched a football match at Up Park Camp where then veteran referee, John 'Bulla John' Richards, was heavily elbowed on the back of his neck by a player during a crowd invasion after the player's team had scored.

Serious incidents

The referee was almost knocked off his feet, but with so many people around, he was unsure who had assaulted him, so he could take no action.

That incident should serve as a reminder to those who are governors of schoolboy football that many serious incidents can take place during crowd invasions. Jamaica is a very violent society and there are spectators and schoolboys who will use crowd invasions as a cover to assault players they may dislike.

Whatever the reason, ISSA should want to find out if this is happening. At that October 17 match, the Wolmer's Boys coach, Michael Francis, himself a former referee, said he refused to continue the game out of fear for his players' safety. STAR Sports reported the next day that Francis and his players had to be escorted to their team bus by security officials.

One-match ban

Francis, according to reports, has since been banned for one match and put on probation for a year while the JC ground has also been put on probation for a year by the disciplinary committee of ISSA.

ISSA has to appear to be even-handed when dealing with these cases. Coaches cannot be allowed to bring the game into disrepute whenever things are not going their way. On the other hand, if there are genuine security concerns, they must also be addressed.

The referee usually has the final say on whether a venue is secure or not, but he cannot see everything. Incidents can, and do, happen behind the backs of both the referee and his assistants.

Please send your feedback to elton.tucker@gleanerjm.com.