SSFL arbitration committee: St Benedict's penalty stands; south school lose last appeal

SECONDARY Schools Football League (SSFL) national Intercol champions St Benedict's College will not be reinstated as premier division winners for the 2024 season, after the league's arbitration committee upheld the decision to strip the school 12 points for their use of star forward Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia during the early stages of the season.

After the arbitration committee of Ruben Hansraj, Theophilus Trim and former SSFL presidents Anthony Creed and William Wallace met on January 21, the SSFL relayed their decision on January 24.

"The arbitration committee unanimously supports the decision of the disciplinary committee and endorsed by the appeals committee, that St Benedict's College was in breach of SSFL constitution Article 16 with the registration of player Derrel Garcia," the committee's report stated.

Represented by acting principal Gregory Quan Kep, team manager Ravi Ramgoolam and lawyer Christophe Brathwaite, St Benedict's proffered statements that Garcia was registered for the ongoing school term on September 30, 2024.

However, the arbitration committee found "there was no evidence to indicate (Garcia) attended classes before October 8, 2024."

The arbitration committee's findings revealed that the signatures of Quan Kep and school supervisor III Sheldon Jodha to support Garcia's presence at the school on September 30 was not captured in the class register, which is seen as the official/legal document in this case.

Instead, the arbitration committee found a copy of the class register for Garcia was signed by Quan Kep and Jodha with the school's stamp dated November 14, indicating that Garcia had resumed classes on October 8.

In its report, the arbitration committee said Garcia was formally entered on the school's roll on October 2, but it found the school breached Article 16 of the league's constitution as the Benedict's captain only attended his first class six days later.

The arbitration committee said, "the penalties articulated by the disciplinary committee applied shall stand."

According to Article 16 of the league's constitution, "students must be duly registered, according to the existing rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education and on the official roll of the school presenting the team. These students must attend classes at the school during normal school hours."

Article 16 also states," the registration of a player with the league must be made in writing at least 72 hours before the start of the match in which that player is to take part."

For the 2024 premier division season, the 17-year-old Garcia, who had returned to St Benedict's after missing the preceding academic year due to a stint with the Intercity Academy in Spain, played three matches against San Juan North Secondary (October 2), Fatima College (October 5) and St Anthony's College (October 7) before his first attendance of the school term. Garcia, who scored 17 goals in the premier division as Benedict's went unbeaten throughout the season, also played and scored in a 2-1 win over Queen's Royal College (QRC) on October 9.

Benedict's were deducted points for all of the above-mentioned matches, with their 41-point tally being chopped down to 29 points – leaving them in fourth spot.

The win for St Benedict's over QRC was erased because the match was less than 72 hours after Garcia registered.

Fatima, who fell to St Benedict's in the 2024 national Intercol final and had initially finished second in the premier division, were elevated to the league title with a 38-point haul.

The Creed-chaired arbitration committee also addressed Benedict's claim of unfair treatment in the matter.

The committee said investigations in the league can be triggered in different ways and one was warranted in the case of Garcia and Benedict's's.

"In this case, questions on Garcia's status were in the public domain and therefore came to the attention of the league and the question was – since Garcia was away from school for one academic year – whether the practised protocol of reinstatement was followed."

The arbitration committee's report also said that educators should be familiar with the necessary protocol when a student has been absent from school for more than a term, and also asserted that principals are expected to contribute to the league's governance.

The committee said Benedict's case was dissimilar to last year's case involving Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and Moruga Secondary, which saw the league's arbitration committee overruling the appeals and disciplinary committees. Both schools were reinstated as zonal championship division winners after they were initially punished for player registration breaches by the SSFL.

Up to press time, Quan Kep told Newsday he was preparing a statement in response to the arbitration committee's ruling.