Hefty fines, bans for brawling footballersBy WALTER ALIBEY Thursday, July 23 2009
HEFTY fines and bans were handed out to players and clubs following a brawl which took place between TT Pro League outfits United Petrotrin and Joe Public Football Club on July 4 at the Petrotrin Football Ground in Palo Seco.
Yesterday in a media release by the Disciplinary Committee of the TT Pro League, both United Petrotrin and “Eastern Lions” Joe Public were slapped with $15,000 and $13,000 fines respectively.
They were penalised for their inability to control their players which later resulted in an all-out brawl soon after the encounter.
The Disciplinary Committee met on three occasions — July 8, 12 and 15 before agreeing on the penalties which are to be paid by the end of August.
Five Petrotrin players who were also involved in the brawl received heavy punishment from the disciplinary committee.
They are Ian Williams — who has been banned for seven consecutive matches as well as a $2,000 fine; Wesley Fredrick who got a six-match ban and a $2,000 fine; Glenroy Samuel was slapped with a two-match suspension and a $750 fine; while former national defender Cyd Gray was handed a fine of $1,000.
Kennedy Hinkson was also punished for his involvement in the brawl and has been ordered to miss two matches and pay a fine of $750.
Five Joe Public players were also penalised for their involvement in the brawl. Their expulsions will mean prevention from taking part in any Reserve League matches until the ban has been served and fines paid.
Among the Joe Public players are goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa who was slapped with an eight-match ban as well as a fine of $4,000 which is to be paid by August 27. The Colombian has been charged with striking a player with an object and attacking players physically.
Seon Power was lashed with a six-match ban and a $2,000 fine while two others players — Carlyle Mitchell and the prolific Gorean Highley were slapped with three-match bans.
However the latter has been ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 while Mitchell is being made to pay $1,000 by August 3.
The other Joe Public player to have been banned and fined is speedy national winger Hayden Tinto. The skilful midfielder who scored the equaliser for Trinidad and Tobago against Mexico on June 10, was handed a two-match suspension and $750 fine for being directly involved in the brawl.
