The Disciplinary Committee of the Secondary School Football League (SSFL) ruled on Tuesday that Shiva Boys Hindu College has lost a protest brought by St Anthony’s College with regards to the legality of midfield player Kierron Mason.
In a release yesterday, the SSFL wrote, “Please be informed that the game St Anthony’s College vs Shiva Boys Hindu College played on 7th October 2017 the three (3) points and 3-0 margin has been awarded to St Anthony’s College. The Disciplinary Committee which met on 24th October 2017 ruled that Kierron Mason was not a registered player. He received his transfer certificate from the Super League on 6th October 2017.”
St Anthony’s protested that Mason was an illegal transfer from T&T Super League club Marabella Family Crisis Centre in September. The school contended that the player was not eligible to play against it because his transfer was outside the stipulated date of August 31 to be eligible to play in the SSFL.
Mason was seen playing for the Marabella FCC on September 2, but stopped, said Sheldon Maharaj, the Shiva Boys team manager on Wednesday when Guardian Media Sports spoke to him. On that day he said that when Mason played for his club, he was not a member of any school, which should render the matter null and void.
However, according to the release, “The SSFL Constitution: 16 Criteria for Registration states that “the registration of a player with the League must be made in writing at least seventy-two (72) hours before the start of the match in which the player is to take part .” Hence the decision made.
The decision means that Shiva Boys drop from third to fourth on the 15-team standing.
When contacted following the SSFL decision Dexter Sakal, the principal of Shiva Boys Hindu College told us, “This evening I received an email saying that St Anthony’s had a protest against us and they were awarded the points in the game. I am a bit surprised because I am unaware that St Anthony’s had any protest against us. I read it in the news, but I was never informed that there was any protest against us and I never attended any meeting in which this matter was discussed. So I am really surprised to know how the league could just award points without even consulting me. Tomorrow, I will look at it and see what I can do to address that situation.”
When pressed further on the decision Sakal said, “In the Keirron Mason matter, the Disciplinary Committee had already looked at it and told me that they wouldn’t be penalising me on that issue, so this ruling is a real surprise to me.”
Earlier in the season, Mason was also the subject of a transfer issue protest by Naparima College and the former champions won after only the first game of the season.
TEAMS P W L D F A GD PTS
1. St Anthony’s 13 9 1 3 41 22 +18 30
2. Naps 13 9 1 3 30 13 +17 30
3. Pres 11 7 2 2 25 14 +11 23
4. Shiva Boys 11 7 3 2 30 13 +17 22
5. San Juan 13 5 2 6 29 15 +10 21
6. Fatima 11 6 5 0 15 15 0 18
7. Trinity East 11 5 4 2 20 12 +8 17
8. CIC 12 4 4 4 27 26 +1 16
9. Carapichaima 13 4 6 3 19 20 -1 15
10. QRC 14 4 7 3 23 30 -7 15
11. St Augustine 12 4 7 1 24 27 -3 13
12. St Benedict’s 12 3 6 3 18 26 -8 12
13. Signal Hill 12 2 7 3 11 25 -14 8
14. Trinity Moka 11 2 7 2 13 30 -17 8
15. Speyside 13 2 10 1 7 43 -36 7
16. Fyzabad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16