There was confusion and bedlam at the Golden Grove ground Saturday night as the East Coast Mash Cup ended under a controversial cloud, with Ann’s Grove being declared the winner by the referees to end a tense sudden death penalty shootout against Dynamic FC.
Several factors inclusive of a mammoth crowd that encroached the playing area during the penalty shoot-out, and the arrival of police officers to apprehend a player, added to the chaos which led to the unfortunate end, as home side Dynamic FC walked off the playing area, and refused to continue the fixture, prompting the referees to eventually award the match to the visitors based on the tournament rules. The score at the ill-fated end of the contest was 7-7 with Ann’s Grove needing to convert and seal the victory after the home side had missed their previous attempt at the distance. The initial section of the penalty shoot-out finished 3-3. The referees were initially advised by the promoters of the tournament and the police to abandon the fixture due to the intrusion of the crowd on the playing. Following consultation with the coaches of both teams, the referees opted to conclude the fixture utilizing the tournament rules.
The referees were escorted out of the facility at the end of the final whistle by police officers who had assembled in the penalty area. A meeting was convened with the organisers and upon review of the competition rules in conjunction with the FIFA regulations, a unanimous decision was made to award the match to the visitors.
Laws 10(3) and 14(1) of FIFA RULES OF THE GAME were applied pursuant to Rule 21 of the Mash Cup Rules, to remove “hurdles, as far as they existed, which operated to prevent the conclusion of the competition…”
According to Law 14.1, the final sentence states, “If a defending team player (including the goalkeeper) commits an offence and the penalty is missed/saved, the penalty is retaken.”
Dynamic FC contended that the Ann’s Grove player, who was subsequently apprehended by the lawmen, was disqualified when he missed the first kick of the penalty shoot-out. Applying the rules, the referees concluded that it was a missed kick, and he was entitled to retake the kick as enshrined in the rules.
The Ann’s Grove player in question left the playing area following the arrival of the police force. Having exhausted the 10 players during the sudden death penalty shoot-out, the said player was required to continue the process given that he was an initial penalty taker and missed.
The player was not given a red card for his absence by the officials due to the circumstances. He was given a yellow card for failing to acknowledge his presence following the first announcement of his name Upon his eventual return on the second declaration of his name, and the scores levelled, the player was prevented from taking the spot-kick following the removal of the ball by opposition players, who eventually stormed off the field in protest. This resulted in an impasse and Ann’s Grove was subsequently declared the winner by the officials. No presentation occurred at the end of the match and the officials are expected to make a decision on the way forward.
Prior to the unfortunate scenes, Quason MacAulay opened the scoring for Dynamic FC in the 15th minute, uncorking a powerful strike from the top of the box into the back of the net.
The score was doubled 15 minutes later, as Travis Williams made his presence felt, curling the ball into the far corner from inside the left of the penalty area.
However, Dellon Wright reduced the deficit at 2-1 in the 42nd minute for Ann’s Grove, latching onto a cross following a combination of passes, before calmly slamming his effort past the custodian from inside the 18-yard box. Wright then fashioned the equaliser in the 70th minute, thumping his powerful header into the back of the net after rising to latch onto a cross from a free-kick outside the penalty area. Due to the unsavoury outcome, Ann’s Grove is penciled to receive $500,000 and the championship trophy, whilst Dynamic FC is scheduled to walk away with $250,000 and the corresponding accolade.
In the third-place playoff, Pouderoyen defeated Slingerz FC via walkover, after the latter did not make an appearance at the venue to commence the match.
No reason was given for their unexpected absence, and it is uncertain if they will receive their fourth-place prize of $100,000 for their failure to compete. With the outcome, Pouderoyen walked away with $150,000 and the third-place trophy.
