The Guyana Police Force [GPF] and Santos fixture in the Turbo Energy Drink Football Championship was abandoned by the referees, after a gunshot was discharged by an unknown fan standing in close proximity to the fourth official.
The gunshot erupted in the 90th+1 minute, moments after forward Manasseh Primo leveled the score at 2-2 for the officers with a powerful free kick.
The shot which startled the sprinkling of spectators, was allegedly fired by an individual that was initially standing behind the substitutes’ bench of the police team.
Moments after the episode, the visibly shaken referees congregated in the middle of the field, before deciding to abandon the clash, much to the protest of GPF and their fandom.
Following the referees off the field were Santos FC. Present at the venue during the incident were the Directors of the Petra Organization Troy Mendonca and Marlon Cole, as well as several members of the Guyana Football Federation [GFF] inclusive of Director of Competitions Ian Alves.
This is the second shooting incident to occur at a tournament coordinated by the Petra Organizaton in the year.
On April 14th, the Corona Futsal Championship match between Sparta Boss and Bent Street was abandoned after several gunshots were discharged inside the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, triggering a stampede and resulting in injuries to several patrons.
It was revealed by the organizers via an official release then that the incident transpired following a disagreement between a male and his female companion.
However several observers had alleged that the situation also escalated because of a sizable wager that went sour between persons aligned to the competing teams.
Prior to the embarrassing and unsavoury end to the match, Dexroy Adams handed GPF the lead in the 19th minute, uncorking a powerful strike which crashed into the woodwork and settled into the back of the net.
With the score unchanged heading into the halftime interval, Lionel Holder equalised in the 61st minute, volleying into the roof of the net, after latching onto a loose ball following a right sided cornerkick.
Substitute Keith Caines then made an immediate impact with his first touch of the ball following his introduction in the 73rd minute, blasting a freekick into the bottom left corner from the top of the box.
However, Primo equalised in the dying moments of the clash, rifling a shot from the left side of the field, that whistled through the grasp of the goalkeeper and into the right corner.
Meanwhile, Northern Rangers upset Riddim Squad 3-2. Stephon Reynolds bagged a double in the 60th and 81st minute, while Nigel Denny scored in the 27th minute.
For the loser, Rolex Smith and Wendell Joseph found the back of the net in the fifth and 48th minute respectively.
