The ISSA/Flow Manning Cup game between Group B leaders Hydel High (19 points) and Haile Selassie at Duhaney Park was prematurely called off with the scored tied at 1-1.

Referee Malika Reid, fearing for his safety and with no police security in place after players and supporters of Haile Selassie became visibly displeased with his award of a penalty to Hydel, discontinued the match after the second-half restart.

Haile Selassie had taken the lead in the fourth minute through Hamish Smith.

Players and supporters of Haile Selassie, who are second in the group on 13 points, objected to Reid’s penalty call on the stroke of half-time.

To make matters worse, the referee had to issue a red card to Haile Selassie player Clive Bonner who reportedly said something of an unsavoury nature to him.

During that time, a missile was was said to have been thrown in the direction of the referee from the nearby stand.

The game was held up for some 35 minutes until the police came. The game was then re-started and the penalty was taken. No sooner the penalty was taken by Stephen Barnett to bring Hydel level, police officers left.

In their absence, the game was called off after five minutes into the second half as the referee refused to continue the match without security in the mood of hostility.

— Hurbun Williams

Hydel High’s Ranahko Allen (left) comes in high against Haile Selassie’s Phillip Duncanson during their Group B ISSA/Flow Manning Cup game at Duhaney Park yesterday. The referee called off the game with both teams locked at 1-1. (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)

Yesterday’s results

Group B

Greater Portmore 1, Papine 0

Dunoon 2, Cumberland 3

Group C

Innswood 4, Kingston Tech 0

Eltham 0, Ardenne 1

Group F

Spanish Town 0, Excelsior 1

Jonathan Grant 1, Vauxhall 0