SVGFF to have complete control of refereeing

The Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) will soon have complete control of refereeing here.{{more}}

That was revealed by the Federation’s President Joseph Delves, as he spoke at the opening of the Sion Hill Inter Village Football Competition, at the Sion Hill Playing Field, last Saturday afternoon.

Delves said: “The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation will be exercising complete control of refereeing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in every nook and cranny.”

But it does not stop there, as according to Delves, “The referees will be required to be registered with the SVGFF.”

The local Football boss also stated that the referees will be under the supervision of a Referees Department, which will be established and charged with the responsibility of supervising referees.

Delves said that the new regulations and secretariat are part of findings which came out of a five-day Referees Course held here from September 29 to October 3.

At the close of the course, FIFA Referees Instructor Jamaican Peter Prendergast said he was not impressed with the standard of local Football match officials.

Prendergast laid the blame at the Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) and the referees also, as he expressed the view that there is no accountability, as the system currently in place is not demanding.

Delves though, at Saturday’s opening, claimed that the standard varies from place to place.

Admitting that it is a source of concern for the overall development of the sport, Delves said, “We cannot improve Soccer without improving our referees.”

Also making brief remarks at last Saturday’s Opening Ceremony were Manager of the National Sports Council, Osbourne Browne, Parliamentary Representative for East Kingstown, Arnhim Eustace, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Youth, Sports, etc. Cecil Mc Kie and Chairman of the Sion Hill League Committee, Earl Bennett.

Six villages: Walvaroo One, Walvaroo Two, Mala Village, Village, Top Roseau and Bottom Roseau are the participating teams.

Walvaroo One won the 2009 competition. (RT)