Former Slingerz FC manager Colin ‘BL’ Aaron has been banned by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for a period of six months for his involvement in a physical altercation with a referee during a West Demerara League encounter.
According to correspondence signed by General Secretary Ian Alves and dated October 20th, Aaron has been banned from all football-related activities under the jurisdiction of the GFF from the aforesaid date due to a physical altercation with an official that played a part in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) senior league encounter between Slingerz and Uitvlugt being abandoned on October 1st at the Tuschen ground.
“After a panel review of the occurrences of October 1st, 2023, during a West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Senior Men’s League match played between Slingerz FC and Uitvlugt FC at the Tuschen ground, East Bank Essequibo, it was concluded that you were abusive to and involved in a physical altercation with one of the match officials, thereby contributing to the disruption of the match. This incident, combined with a pattern of hostility towards match officials and others at football venues on your part over several years, has now caused the Guyana Football Federation to take initial action in an effort to prevent any such continued behavior,” the GFF correspondence stated.
“You are therefore informed by way of this missive that you are banned from any venue where any event conducted by or sanctioned by the GFF, its regional member associations, or its affiliates is taking place for a period of six months commencing October 20, 2023. Kindly note that the commissioner of police, by copy of this letter, is informed of this imposition,” it added.
Efforts to contact GFF General Secretary Alves for a comment proved futile. Several calls to his cell phone went unanswered up to press time. Meanwhile, Aaron, in a brief comment, said, “I saw the letter in my email, and I will take legal action because you are trying to destroy my character.”
The match between Slingerz and Uitvlugt was abandoned by the referees following an argument that erupted between the lead official, spectators, of which Aaron was one, and members of the Slingerz technical area and bench. At the time of the stoppage, 65 minutes had elapsed in the 80-minute encounter, with defending champion and league leader Slingerz commanding a sizable 3-0 advantage.
The fracas ignited after Leo Lovell of Slingerz was issued his second yellow card for alleged dissent which produced a red card from the official and led to his expulsion. Red cards were also issued to substitute Delon Lanferman and assistant coach O’Neil Heywood in the subsequent verbal spat that was immediately triggered by Lovell’s dismissal.
The correspondence did not state who the members of the panel that conducted the review were or if Aaron was placed before the GFF Disciplinary Committee.
