Dear Editor: Why Colin Murray is wide of the mark in SSFL – St Benedict’s debacle

“[…] Colin Murray suggests that if St Benedict’s College [are] found guilty of breaching the rules, the punishment should not impact this year’s competition. Instead, the college should start the next season with a nine-point deficit.

“[…] A decision to penalize next year’s team effectively shifts the consequences onto a group of students who had no involvement in this year’s infractions. This raises ethical concerns about fairness and accountability…”

The following Letter to the Editor about the registration debacle involving St Benedict’s College and TTFA vice-president Colin Murray’s view on the matter was submitted to Wired868 by Anthony Lee Kim:

After reading Colin Murray’s recent article in The Guardian, where he offered his perspective on the ongoing SSFL debacle, I was struck by one of his recommendations.

Murray suggests that if St Benedict’s College [are] found guilty of breaching the rules, the punishment should not impact this year’s competition. Instead, the college should start the next season with a nine-point deficit.

While seemingly pragmatic, this proposal carries serious implications that deserve scrutiny:

Punishing the wrong group: A decision to penalize next year’s team effectively shifts the consequences onto a group of students who had no involvement in this year’s infractions. This raises ethical concerns about fairness and accountability.

Undermining rule enforcement: Allowing this year’s violators to escape immediate consequences sends a troubling message: breaking the rules is acceptable as long as it does not affect your immediate outcomes. This undermines the integrity of the league and sets a dangerous precedent.

It’s worth noting that Mr Murray is not only the secretary of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) but also a [vice-president] of the newly elected TTFA.

If this recommendation reflects his approach to governance, it raises questions about the kind of leadership and decision-making the public can expect from these organizations.

A key issue here is the apparent exploitation of players—particularly standout athlete Derrel Garcia—by the school’s administrators. These administrators bear the responsibility for the breach and must face appropriate disciplinary measures.

To delay or sidestep accountability not only compromises the credibility of the competition but also sends a poor message to the youth involved.

The procrastination by the relevant authorities in making a decision is perplexing and frustrating for many. This unnecessary delay has made a bad situation worst, making the matter into what increasingly feels like a regional conflict between north and south Trinidad.

What should be a discussion about fair play has instead devolved into divisive posturing.

This issue is not about which team played the best football this season. It is about upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and respect for the rules.

Murray and his co-host Brent Sancho, as influential commentators, should refrain from offering biased opinions that inflame tensions. Instead, they should advocate for decisive and impartial action from the SSFL administrators.

This situation demands clarity and accountability. The longer the authorities delay, the more the trust and unity within the SSFL community will erode.

Let us hope that the final resolution prioritizes doing the right thing over expedience or regional allegiances.

More from Wired868

St Benedict’s appeal SSFL decision, insist Garcia was active student before he attended class

St Benedict’s College have appealed the decision of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) to strip them of 12 points—and, Read more

Dear Editor: Arrogant, inept SSFL execs disrespected Signal Hill and spoiled the Intercol competition

“[…] The bigger problem here, is twofold. Firstly, Signal Hill Secondary is a former footballing powerhouse since the days of Read more

SSFL 2024: The St Benedict’s case: three parties made different rulings on Garcia—and none followed the Constitution

Article 16 of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Constitution explains the criteria for eligibility in its competitions. “Before students Read more

SSFL strips Benedict’s of Premier title, but won’t relegate southern giants

St Benedict’s College are set to be stripped of 12 points and, by extension, their claim to the 2024 Secondary Read more

Reds: CWI dropped ball on Alzarri; and Pakistan will test his self-control

“[…] The West Indies board may have, as I wrote, taken Alzarri Joseph out of the England series and provided Read more

St Benedict’s star, Pierre, could miss T&T’s U-17 WCQ; chooses school tour over national camp

Trinidad and Tobago look likely to be without the services of talented 16-year-old defender Adam ‘Toka’ Pierre for their 2025 Read more

Letters to the Editor

Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com.
Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation.
We don’t publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.