Football Referees pull the plug on their services

An incident at the Victoria Park, last Tuesday, February 18, 2025, that resulted in President of the SVG Referees Association(SVGRA), Elron Lewis, receiving a cut just below his left eye has led to the decision to temporarily withdraw the services of match officials from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s current National Club Championships.

A release from the SVGRA on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, revealed the intent of the members and the circumstances that led to their decision. It said the “unfortunate incident” which occurred shortly after a match on February 18, involving Awesome FC in the premier division “ where a coach, who had been issued a red card for his insulting and abusive language and conduct in the technical area attacked a match official (4th official)”.

The Association stated that the coach had exited the venue, but returned with his verbal assault, and took it a step further by allegedly resorting to a physical confrontation.

“Shockingly, around 50 minutes after the game, the said coach launched a violent attack from behind, using an unknown object to strike the 4th official, causing a cut below his (left) eye”.

The SVG Referees Association cited inadequate security to help prevent such occurrences.

“At the match there were no police presence near the technical area where the first attempt to attack the fourth official occurred”, the release stated.

“ In light of these serious breaches and the constant threat to Referees’ safety, the SVG Referees Association will not provide officiating services for any matches until adequate security protocols are put in place”, the Lewis penned release states.

This is not the first time that Football referees have withdrawn their services over incidents involving physical altercations.

During the 2022/2023 National Club Championships, Assistant Referee, Justin Bullock was struck by a player of Volcanoes, during a first division match at the Victoria Park.

A fracas had erupted, and the penal outcome was the banning of several players from the Volcanoes Club

Also in the 2022/2023 championships, referee, Rohan Primus received blows about the body from a player of Greiggs FC, at the Chili Playing Field.

Likewise, Lorson Lewis was the worse off after a physical attack during an Under-17 quarter final match at the Campden Park Playing Field.