PLB announces sanctions for Marshalleck Stadium incidents; Closing Season opens this weekend
Sanctions and fines
The Premier League of Belize late yesterday released the long awaited decision of its Disciplinary Committee on sanctions to be imposed on “Verdes Football Club due to the infractions that occurred on 26th January, 2014 between Verdes FC and FC Belize at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo Town.” And a number of Verdes stars have been effectively suspended from the upcoming Closing Season, which should last about 3 months.
Five Verdes players were given lengthy suspensions: Norman (“Tilliman” Nunez) Pipersburgh, Orland Lyons, Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton and Julian Maldonado were suspended for 6 months; and Jacinto “Fowl” Bermudez was suspended for 2 years.
In addition, the PLB stated that “Marshalleck Stadium should not be used until improvements are made, initially for the second part of the PLB tournament.” And “Verdes will incur the cost of repairs to the referee vehicle pending the Police Report.” The release notes a damage cost list totaling $1,395.00.
Further, the League is also imposing on Verdes FC a fine of “$150.00 for each card issued as Team Misconduct.” And, surprisingly, FC Belize is also being fined “$150.00 per card for Team Misconduct” for cards issued in the game.
The release ends by noting that “Verdes FC club has the right within the specified time period to lodge an appeal to the secretariat of the Football Federation of Belize.”
The harsh sanctions are one thing, but the long delay in their announcement may create complications as regulations reportedly stipulate that these should be imposed before the end of the current competition, which climaxed on February 8. It also creates a damper on the launching of the new Closing Season, scheduled to commence this weekend, although no sponsor for the new season has yet been announced, the Belikin sponsorship having been withdrawn..
Closing Season begins
Week 1 schedule PLB Closing Season 2013-2014:
Saturday, February 22
7:30 p.m. – Belmopan Bandits vs Police United – Isidoro Beaton Stadium
7:30 p.m. – Belize Defence Force FC vs San Ignacio United – Carl Ramos Stadium
Sunday, February 23
3:30 p.m. – Paradise/Freedom Fighters vs Verdes FC – Toledo Union Field
(FC Belize resting)