The following statement was sent to Wired868 from Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association vice-president Osmond Downer, following an after-match altercation between some Morvant Caledonia AIA club members and match officials on Wednesday:
The membership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association condemns in the strongest terms the attack on the officials officiating the Morvant-Caledonia AIA v Defence Force match played on Wednesday 18 September 2019.
Match officials provide an absolutely necessary service in the conduct of the game of football, making judgments on the match in accordance with the laws of the game. Players and team officials do damage when they seek to pronounce on situations which are provided for in the laws and worst when they react in ways that directly compromise the safety of our match officials. Such actions only help to bring the game into disrepute and must be condemned by all parties which have an interest in sport.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association will support the strongest disciplinary action taken against the offenders in the situation which has been well-documented in video evidence. Failure to take serious action will create a precedent which can contribute to even more serious incidents in the future… this must be avoided at all cost!