Disciplinary chief hits back at Savery
Crichlow yesterday voiced his displeasure at comments made by Director of Referees, Aldwyn Savery, over this week's life ban handed to soccer bad boy Troy (Tortoise) Durham.
In a written statement, Crichlow said that he wished to "set the record straight'' as to how sentences are imposed on players who infringe the laws of soccer.
He noted that it was not his, nor the committee's role to cater to the wishes of the association or the referees when arriving at a decision.
"The disciplinary committee studies the referee reports sent in -- as illegible and disjointed as they are -- questions the parties involved in the dispute and arrives at a decision,'' wrote Crichlow, who is also Bermuda's Postmaster General.
"Whether or not the decision pleases Mr. Savery or indeed, the BFA, is of no concern to me as chairman. The committee is there to do a job and to do it to the best of its ability.
"I, personally, am not there to make decisions to please Mr. Savery or anyone else but will continue to make decisions which I can live with and ones which I believe are justified by the peculiar situations.'' Savery, in yesterday's Royal Gazette , expressed his satisfaction at the severe punishment meted out to Durham of Dandy Town, who was found guilty of punching linesman Peter Sousa after being ejected from Sunday's First Division match between Town and Devonshire Colts at Frog Lane Field.
The outspoken director said that such a severe sentence "sent out a strong message which will be assuring to referees''.
He continued: "I would have been disappointed if the sentence wasn't as severe as it turned out to be. The punishment seems quite justified.'' It has been speculated that the fact that Bermuda Referees Association filed an appeal against the length of suspension (three years) of Devonshire Cougars player Winston Martin might have influenced the committee when they considered the Durham case.
But again Crichlow took exception, strongly denying that they had been influenced by outside parties.
"Recent decisions made by the committee have not been made under duress or as a result of pressure from any quarters, but reflect the committee's unbiased deliberations of an unfortunate incident,'' said Crichlow.
"...I wish to remind everyone that the BFA always has a recourse which they can follow if they are displeased with the committee's decisions and that is to appoint a new chairman.'' Meanwhile, The Royal Gazette understands that many of the Island's soccer clubs are discussing having Durham banned from all of the grounds.
Durham has already been suspended for 10 years by his own club. But that suspension only relates to sporting activities and he is still allowed to visit the club.
CLEVELYN CRICHLOW -- `setting the record straight'.