Four-year ban for footballer who hit opponent
By Colin Thompson
Commercial league footballer Albert Thomas has been slapped with a four-year ban by Bermuda Football Association (BFA) for violent conduct during a match.
The PHC Raiders forward is alleged to have fractured the cheek bone of North Village Rams player Kevin Bailey with a "sucker punch" in retaliation after he was fouled by the latter during a Commercial A Division contest at Southampton Oval on November 1.
Thomas was immediately sent off following the alleged assault.
Bermuda Referee's Association (BRA) secretary and former Village defender, Cornell Castle, witnessed the incident and later reported it to the BFA.
"I was standing on the upper balcony at the Southampton Rangers Sports Club observing the match when around the 70th minute of the match Kevin Bailey was dispossessed by Thomas.
"As Thomas dribbled towards the touchline Bailey attempted to regain possession and made what looked to be a clumsy tackle rather than a malicious one, which resulted in Thomas going to the ground," Castle recalled.
"Referee Bell (Raiders player Keith Bell) blew for a foul but before play resumed Thomas ran some five to seven yards and threw an overhead right, landing smack on Bailey's jaw."
Ref Bell described his team-mate's actions as "unsportsmanlike".
"Mr.Thomas displayed poor sportmanship and ungentlemanly conduct," he said.
"He (Thomas) proceeded and lashed out at Kevin Bailey, knocking him to the ground and causing serious injury."
Earlier this month Devonshire Colts coach, Ray Jones, was placed on a one-year probation by the BFA's disciplinary committee for making "inappropriate" remarks at referee Ronue Cann during a November 2 Premier Division match involving Colts and Dandy Town at St.John's Field.
Jones had a more serious charge of bringing the game into disrepute thrown out by the disciplinary committee.
Meanwhile, the fate of PHC assistant coach Jack Castle remains in the balance as a second disciplinary hearing held earlier this week was adjourned after the former Zebras defender walked out on proceedings.
Castle had initially been served a six-month ban for "disorderly conduct" (swearing and throwing a drink in the faces of club executives) but had the charges against him quashed on appeal and summoned to re-appear before a PHC disciplinary committee, headed up by the former Zebras winger Michael Trott.
A PHC appeals committee overturned the ban after determining that the disciplinary committee that presided over Castle's case had in fact contravened bye-laws in the club's constitution.
PHC vice-president Mark Wade and Castle – who has contemplated seeking legal advice – have both declined to comment on the matter.
Recently it was revealed that PHC president Chris Furbert has also been summoned to appear before a BFA disciplinary committee to answer to charges of making "rude" and "disrespectful" remarks at senior referee Anthony Mouchette during a October 19 Premier match involving Zebras and Dandy Town at Southampton Oval.
