Waterhouse protest against Arnett

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) are expected to make a ruling shortly on a protest lodged by Waterhouse Football Club regarding the use of a player by Arnett Gardens that they claim was illegal during their Digicel Premier League (DPL) football match at Drewsland last Sunday.

The match, which ended 1-1, saw Arnett Gardens using defender Gerald Neil, who was issued a red card in their previous game, the final of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Jackie Bell Knockout competition, against Harbour View last Wednesday.

"We have lodged a protest to the JFF/PLCA," said Ricky Chin, president of Waterhouse FC.

According to Waterhouse, Neil should have sat out the game as per article 39 (2) of the JFF/PLCA 2010-2011 Rules and Regulations regarding the carrying over of match suspensions.

Article 39 (2) states: "Match suspensions in relation to an expulsion pronounced on a player outside of a competition (separate match(es)), or not served during the competition for which they were intended (elimination for the last match in the competition), are carried over to the next match the player is eligible for in another competition, or the next match of the same competition in the following season, whichever comes first."

However, Arnett Gardens president, Patrick Roberts, said he was not aware of any such protest from Waterhouse, and until the JFF or PLCA contacted them formally, he would not comment in detail.

"We have not received anything official from the JFF/PLCA or KSAFA regarding a Waterhouse protest. So until that happens, we have no response," said Roberts.

It is further understood that Arnett, if and when officially notified of the protest, will be up to the challenge, as based on certain sections of Articles 39 (2), and 39 (3), they believe that they did nothing wrong in playing Neil.

Match suspensions

Article 39 (3) reads: "Match suspensions resulting from several cautions issued to a player in different matches of the same competition are never carried over to another competition."

Efforts to contact the JFF's competitions' committee chairman, Michael Ricketts, proved futile. However, a representative from the federation said they were dealing with matter.

"A decision has not been made on the matter as yet, but as soon as one is made, it will be communicated," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Should Arnett Gardens be found guilty of the alleged offence, as per the rules and regulations, they would stand to lose the game by a 3-0 goal margin, thus surrendering the point they gained, while Waterhouse would gain all three points for the contest.