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“[…] The injury of Michael Chaves, as far as I am concerned, is directly linked to the words of referee Rashby McPhie—which can be viewed as inciting even more robust and flagrant play from the players.
“[…] I then heard Mr McPhie say the most incredibly insensitive and inhumane thing I have heard from an official in all my life in this game. Within earshot of the injured player who was crying out in anguish and whose mother, father and 10-year-old brother were obviously distraught with worry…”
Photo: Annalicia Caruth/ Wired868
The following Letter to the Editor on a broken ankle suffered by QPCC and Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 forward Michael Chaves, during a TTPFL Tier Two game against MIC Matura Reunited, was submitted to Wired868 by QPCC head coach Wayne Sheppard:
The officiating conducted by Mr Rashby McPhie on Sunday 17th March, devoid of human decency coupled with arrogance and ignorance of the rules of the game, is the worst I have encountered at any level. And I have been involved with the game as a player and then a coach since 1980.
The game (between QPCC and MIC Matura Reunited) started seven minutes late because referee McPhie created his own rules as it pertains to proper gear. He insisted that players’ socks must be pulled up under their knees.
I believe Fifa law four indicates that socks must cover the shin pads. So, the game started late as players from Matura and QPCC were made to adjust their socks to his liking and not to the laws of the game.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Mr McPhie’s language and tone as he spoke to players from both teams before kickoff bordered on bullying. He also made it clear that he would listen to the team captains’ inquiries alone “if he feels like it”.
Mr McPhie never took control of the game and instead spent his time trying to embarrass the quality of the players participating. It was evident to our staff that the tackles in the game were getting out of hand.
Minutes prior to Michael Chaves’ horrific injury, I and several members of my staff got up off the bench to implore that Mr McPhie take control of the game by calling fouls promptly and issuing cards.
Mr McPhie constantly lagged way behind the play and looked short of the physical condition to keep up and be in the right place to make decisions.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/Wired868
However, even more disturbing than his apparent lack of fitness were his responses to our concerns. When we asked for a free kick after a clearly aggressive tackle, his response was: “allyuh players too weak!”
This comment was made loudly for both sets of players to hear. I responded: “you were ever a player, far less a strong one?” To which he replied: “yes”! (I assume that was to suggest he was.)
Is it the referee’s job to demean players, or to protect them by applying the laws of the game? The effect of his utterances was immediate and obvious, as an already physical game became more robust—as players sought to show they were not weak.
While another QPCC player was on the ground getting medical attention, the staff again pleaded in vain for him to take charge of the game. A minute or two later came the horror tackle on Chaves.
The injury of Michael Chaves, as far as I am concerned, is directly linked to the words of Mr McPhie—which can be viewed as inciting even more robust and flagrant play from the players.
About five minutes after the game was stopped for medical personnel to attend to “Mikey”, I entered the field. By that time, players from both benches, staff, spectators and the entire Chaves family were on the field as well.
I spoke to two senior Matura players both of whom I have good relationships with, having coached them or their sons in the past. Both agreed the tackle was a bad one and that the referee had lost control of the game.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
I heard my staff member telling Mr McPhie that his previous comments inflamed the situation.
I then heard Mr McPhie say the most incredibly insensitive and inhumane thing I have heard from an official in all my life in this game.
Within earshot of the injured player who was crying out in anguish and whose mother, father and 10-year-old brother were obviously distraught with worry, Mr McPhie proceeded to say loudly: “Nah my words ain’t do that… all ah dem players just damn weak… players does break dey foot all the time.”
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/CA-Images/Wired868)
They all heard him. Is this action befitting of an official at any level of the game?
At that point I said to him, as he was about 15 feet away from me: “it’s your shit refereeing and incompetence that got the boy’s foot broken. You are the biggest shithound out!”
Mr McPhie shouted: “what you say dey?!” and started his well-practiced motion of going for his card. Before he could get his hands in his pocket, I said: “give me a red, it ain’t doing nothing here—cause you still remain at fault here, yuh shithound!”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
You could see that physically took away the joy and empowerment he feels dishing out cards. Mr McPhie then marched angrily to me, came right up in my personal space and raised his hand with card in a manner that deliberately brought his forearm into contact with my face.
This was done in full view of my manager, Mr Stephen Williams, and players from QPCC.
At this point I shouted: “you must be fucking mad!” and two or three of my QPCC players intervened to prevent me from going to him to find out why he hit me.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
I subsequently left the playing area, stood on the opposite side of the field from the technical area and took no further part in the game. After the game, I made a police report of Mr McPhie’s assault on me.
“Match officials must have excellent football understanding and need to evolve with the game to stay effective and relevant. Their two main priorities are: protecting the safety of players; and consistent and uniform application of the Laws of the Game.”
The quote above is Fifa’s view on referees. For me, Mr McPhie fails on both counts—and has been doing so consistently for years.
Photo: MIC
Statement from MIC Matura ReUnited head coach Shem Alexander:
“The entire team really regrets what happened to Chaves. As a coach, I think it took a lot out oof the game and I felt really bad about it. For the entire second half, I was thinking about how he was doing. Although I don’t think it was a malicious tackle from our player.
“I also sent a letter to the head of the Referee’s Committee about some of the comments he (McPhie) was making. After the player’s foot was broken, he was saying things like ‘dem thing normal in football’… It was really insensitive.”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Editor’s Note: Coach Wayne Sheppard was shown a red card during the match between QPCC and Matura Reunited and there is also a referee’s report from Rashby McPhie, which outlines his own view on the coach.
Wired868 does not have a copy of that report but is open to publishing a rebuttal from McPhie or the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association (TTFRA) on his behalf.
Chaves was due to leave for the United States today to play for QPCC in the Jefferson Cup, while he was understood to have accepted a full scholarship from a US-based university. However, after undergoing surgery on Monday 18 March, he is now expected to be out of the game for roughly six months.
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I wasn’t there and opposing coaches’ opinion expectedly differ about the tackle. Whatever, all who love the game, not to mention parents and family, must empathize with this young man and what this serious injury could potentially do to his immediate and future career prospects.
Those who follow football know that I have spoken up and out against the general level and quality of local refereeing for four decades. I never feared to say that FIFA wasting money on the overwhelming majority of them. I, and all my teams, suffered for that. The higher referee “authorities” don’t care. They park their bus and arrogantly defend their members, part of which may include official punishment for their critics; another part of which may involve “extra-judicial” and capricious action by other referees on any given day. They “come to a match for yuh”. Dem’s the facts. Wayne will handle himself, I’m sure. To young Chaves I say “We’re sorry. Stay strong. Try to come back better. And good luck”.
touching a Caperton in an entirely unrelated way.