Arnett coach hardest hit by JFF Disciplinary Committee
Arnett Gardens assistant coach, Ian Barnett, was the hardest hit by the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) Disciplinary Committee at its last sitting last week.
Barnett was fined $5,000and given a one-match suspension for breach of Articles 41.9.3 (Disparaging Remarks). He was reported to have verbally abused the referee at the end of the JFF National Under-21 League match between Arnett Gardens FC and Harbour View FC at the Anthony Spaulding Complex on November 22.
Boys’ Town’s utility player Fabian Watkins was next hardest hit as he was docked $4,000 and slapped with a four-match suspension. Watkins was summoned by the committee for a breach of Article 41.3.3 (Violent Conduct) during the Digicel Premier League (DPL) match between Harbour View FC and Boys’ Town FC at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium on November 22. It was accused of striking an opponent with the elbow.
The August Town trio of Aphas Bernard, Jermaine Simpson and Mark Grant were each fined $1,000 and given a one-match suspension for a similar breach. Bernard was summoned for fighting during the DPL game between August Town FC and Tivoli Gardens FC on November 25, at the UWI Bowl, Mona.
Simpson was said to have struck an opponent with his elbow during the DPL match between Portmore United FC and August Town FC on November 15, at Ferdie Neita Park while Grant was called up for fighting during the DPL match between August Town FC and Humble Lions FC on November 4, at the UWI Bowl, Mona.
Tivoli Gardens FC’s Rupert Murray received an identical sanction for fighting during the DPL game between August Town and Tivoli Gardens at the UWI Bowl, Mona on November 25. He was fined $1,000) and given a one-match suspension.
Also facing the committee were Anthony Bennett of Boys’ Town for breach of Article 41.3.8 (Insulting Behaviour) and Kareem Hawes of Waterhouse FC for breach of Articles 28.3.3 & 28.3.10 (U21) (Violent Conduct/Insulting Behaviour). Bennett was summoned for directing abusive and offensive language at a teammate during the DPL match between Boys’ Town FC and Rivoli United FC on November 25, at Collie Smith Drive.
Hawes was charged with striking an opponent and directing offensive, insulting and abusive language at his opponents during the JFF National Under-21 League game between Waterhouse FC and August Town FC played November 13, at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium. Anthony Bennett and Hawes were each fined $1,000 and suspended for one match.
Ricardo Cousins of Portmore United FC escaped punishment after being summoned on a similar charge as there was no evidence that he had committed the offence. It was reported that Cousins struck an opponent during the DPL encounter between Arnett Gardens FC and Portmore United FC on November 22, at the Anthony Spaulding Complex. A review of the tape showed that he was wrongly identified. As a result, no action was taken against him.