TTFF NEWS - Bermuda back down from protest action

Bermuda back down from protest action

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, June 25, 2008

 

The Bermudan Football Association has announced that it will not file any sort of protest in relation to its defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in Sunday’s 2010 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier.

 

Initially, following the 2-0 victory by T&T there had been reports that the Bermudan FA were considering filing a protest against T&T’s second goal as well as what the home team claimed was a second yellow card received by T&T captain Aurtis Whitley.

 

But in a release from the BFA on Wednesday, they went on to state that there was insufficient evidence to warrant any protest.

 

 “The BFA has received DVD recordings of the match played on Sunday, June 22nd, which have been reviewed by the following persons:

Members of the Technical Committee, Members of the BFA Executive Committee, Technical Director, National Senior Team Coaching Staff, President and General Secretary.

 

After reviewing the DVD evidence we have concluded the following:

 

Two Yellow Cards:

The BFA can categorically deny that Trinidadian Player #9 received two yellow cards during the match.  Trinidad & Tobago had received two yellow cards during the match, which were given to players #4 and #9 in the 42th minute and 59th minute respectively.  Therefore, this is no longer an issue.

 

Substitution of Bermuda Player:

 

The DVD recording shows that the Referee stopped the match to award a free kick to Trinidad & Tobago.  At the same time, the 4th Official is seen conducting the substitution between Bermuda players Kwame Steede and Jemeiko Jennings.  Whilst this sequence of events is a contentious issue, the Bermuda FA has determined that there are no grounds to protest the outcome of the match.

 

The issue of there being 12 players on the field is of no relevance as it relates to the process of making substitutions.  The DVD shows Kwame Steede running off the field of play without hesitation and that Jemeiko Jennings enters the field of play as a natural course of action.  There is no intent by the Bermuda players or team officials to circumvent the rules by intentionally placing 12 players on the field of play.  In other words, the actions of both players would occur in the natural / normal process of making a substitution.”

 

The BFA release further stated: “Basis for Decision not to Protest

 

The actions above which played a role in the outcome of the match are disappointing. We have determined that the performance of the 4th Official was below acceptable standards for a World Cup match as it relates to the substitution procedures but we do not see any grounds for protesting the outcome of the match. 

 

However, we have decided to send a formal complaint to FIFA regarding the performance of the Referee, Assistant Referee and 4th Official with respect to this matter.  In our complaint submission we have also asked for FIFA to indicate what action will be taken regarding this matter.”

 

Meantime, with the T&T team back home settling after securing passage to the semi-final round, some of the overseas-based players will start departing for their respective clubs to commence preseason training for the upcoming season.

 

Skipper Aurtis Whitley and the other home-based professionals have also rejoined their clubs for the resumption of the local Pro League.

 

Whitley, looking back at the win over Bermuda, said there was now a need for more bonding among the players.

 

“I think going down 2-1 at home and then going to Bermuda and getting the result we needed showed that the team has a lot of character and that’s an early plus. We knew the importance of the game and while it may not have been a dominating scoreline… I think we played the better football all round,” Whitley told TTFF Media.

 

“I think now we as players have to work more on bonding. The togetherness is there but it’s not as much as the last team was around the ending up of the qualifiers and in Germany. I think if we can get back that togetherness and start playing the football as we should earlier in the campaign this time then things will be easier. We have to look back at how we did it last time and try to repeat the same things but from an earlier time. Everybody knows the next round against USA, Guatemala and Cuba will not be easy so we need to take the necessary steps and go through the right preparations to get past these teams,” Whitley added.