Topp XX well baked
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
January 1, 2005
Four-time champions of the Kashif and Shanghai football competition, Bakewell Topp XX, were unceremoniously booted from the competition following a meeting between the Guyana Football Federation and the organisers of the tournament.
Topp XX will not play in the third place play off against Eagles United scheduled for this evening, and could face further disciplinary measures when the GFF disciplinary committee meets on Wednesday. This comes in the wake of a referee's report of Wednesday's semi-final match between Topp XX and Fruta Conquerors, which was submitted to the GFF and the organisers.
Topp XX's goalkeeper Richard Reynolds refused to take his place inside the goal when called upon to do so by referee during the penalty shoot out to decide the winner, and team members subsequently walked off the field of play.
The GFF wrote to the organisers yesterday stating that, by walking off the field of play before the completion of the game, Topp XX was guilty of gross misconduct and unsportsmanlike behaviour and cannot be allowed to take any further part in the tournament.
The GFF also advised that Eagles United be awarded the third place prize. The GFF letter stated that the names of several Topp XX players who mobbed the referee and protested his decision and instructions have been submitted, and these players will be the subject of a Disciplinary Committee hearing.
But in a letter to the organisers, which announced that the club would not be participating in the final day of the competition, Topp XX claimed that its players left the field of play for their own safety after the crowd became "unruly and violent."
Topp XX's letter, which was signed by vice-president Claude Beckles, claimed that the club was side stepping the third place play off since "the game was uncompleted not because of our team, but the refereeing officials and an unruly crowd."
"We feel cheated with your decision to award the game to the other team without a thorough investigation into what had taken place," the letter stated.
An informed source told Stabroek Sport that bans are likely for the players found guilty.
He explained that once the players are disciplined by the GFF the sanctions will automatically be transferred to the clubs they play with overseas.
"The source claimed that it was not the first time that Topp XX was found guilty of misconduct, and pointed to a few years ago when referee Dianne James was roughed up by team members during a semi-final of the same tournament, which resulted in the GFF issuing bans.