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The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) is facing another protest involving St Benedict’s College, as Tobago Zone champions, Signal Hill Secondary, are claiming that referee Crystal Sobers allowed clear rule violations by opposing goalkeeper Thane Devenish.
Devenish saved two penalties in St Benedict’s 4-3 shootout win over Signal Hill at the Ato Boldon Stadium last Friday, while a third save was overruled for stepping forward off his goal line.
IFAB’s Law 14 The Penalty Kick states: “[…] The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, until the ball is kicked.
“The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, eg delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net.
“[…] After the players have taken positions in accordance with this Law, the referee signals for the penalty kick to be taken. Additionally, when the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line…”
Signal Hill argue, with the help of video clips, that Devenish breached the IFAB law on all six kicks he faced during last week’s shootout.
- St Benedict’s College goalkeeper Thane Devenish saves a penalty from Signal Hill Secondary attacker J’meke Watkins during a shootout at the National Intercol semifinal at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 29 November 2024.
St Benedict’s triumph sets the “La Romaine Lions” on course to meet Fatima College in Thursday’s National Intercol final at the Ato Boldon Stadium. The referee’s word is final, right?
Signal Hill principal Arianne D’Abreau-Forde, again with the help of the IFAB, suggested otherwise.
Law 5 The Referee states: “decisions are made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game’ and will be based on the opinion of the referee, who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game.”
However, Signal Hill argue that the laws of the game have nothing to do with the referee’s discretion—for instance, if the referee blew off the match after 70 minutes, rather than 90.
- St Benedict’s College goalkeeper Thane Devenish denies Signal Hill Secondary forward Kyle James during a penalty shootout in the National Intercol semifinal at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 29 November 2024.
Sobers, the Tobago school argued, “clearly violated her duties and responsibilities to act in accordance with the Law of the Game”.
“Please note that this protest does not focus on the referee’s opinion, but it is based solely on the violation of the IFAB Laws of the game, Law #14, The Penalty Kick,” Signal Hill argued.
“The Signal Hill Secondary School acknowledges that the referee’s decision is final and the decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected. However, this can be challenged when it’s based solely on a point of law and not based on decisions made by the referee because of opinion.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“Please note that the penalty kick law is guided by a procedure and not by the opinion of the referee (as indicated in Law #5, the Referee)… It should also be mentioned that at no point in time was the goalkeeper warned nor cautioned for his actions.”
Signal Hill quoted research from USSF Soccer and Futsal referee and instructor, Brad Heers, who pointed to three situations in which a referee’s decision can be revoked after the final whistle and a replay ordered:
- Evidence of cheating on the part of the referee.
- A clear and definite misapplication of Law that impacts the match.
- An egregious error that impacts the match and can be unequivocally proven.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
And the defeated Intercol semifinalists suggested that Sobers was guilty of points two and three.
I refer to points 2 and 3, and therefore bring this matter to the attention of the League for your immediate attention and action.
Signal Hill also complained about the colours of the match officials for the semifinal which they felt were so similar to their school’s kit that they “resulted in a confused state of mind of the players throughout the first half of the game”.
The match officials changed to red tops during the interval, after complaints from Signal Hill.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“Players complained that at times they attempted to pass the ball to a player, only then realizing that it was the referee and not a player,” stated the school, in a letter of protest to the SSFL Executive. “This was brought to the attention of the games’ officials, who only made the necessary adjustments at the end of the first half of play.”
Signal Hill are one of only two schools that St Benedict’s have not defeated in regulation time this season, alongside Arima North Secondary.
However, unlike Arima North, Signal Hill faced a full-strength St Benedict’s team led by captain Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia—and they did so twice.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
They now believe that the match referee did not give Signal Hill a fair chance in the penalty shootout decider against the southern powerhouse outfit.
D’Abreau-Forde stressed that Signal Hill’s protest is not designed to bring the League into disrepute.
“Sporting competitions encourage teamwork, accountability, self-confidence, discipline and responsibility among students,” she said. “The Secondary Schools Football League has provided an impetus for students of varying aptitudes and attitudes to excel through sports.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“In this regard, it is paramount that issues that threaten to bring the League into disrepute are adjudicated in a timely manner and a decision made in the best interest of the student-athletes.
“We look forward to a favourable response as we encourage the holistic development of our student-athletes and provide an avenue whereby they can shine like the diamonds they are.”
SSFL president Merere Gonzales could not be reached for comment by Wired868 on the Signal Hill protest, or the existing probe into Garcia’s credentials as a student—now and at the time of his registration in August 2024.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
