Tobago referees unaminously supported a motion moved at a recent meeting to cease officiating in the bmobile National Super League with immediate effect because of a perceive disrespect shown to the local referees by the tournament committee of the Super League.
According to Noel Bynoe, former FIFA referee and now Training and Appointment Officer for the Tobago Referee Association, (tra) the situation stems from a feeling of lack of trust and integrity from the organising body, All Sports Promotions.
Bynoe explained that after departing from the stand taken by the parent body for referees, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Assocatin (T&TFRA), to withhold their services in all zones, the treatment of the local refereeing body demonstrates betrayal of trust by the Super League.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association (T&TFRA) had mandated recently, that all their affiliates cease with immediate effect from officiating in any tournament hosted under the auspiscies of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) until the organisation implement the FIFA mandate, regarding the organisation of refereeing in the country.
Tobago was the only Zone that continued to service T&TFF events and now they have been slapped in the face by the Super League's decision to use Trinidad referees who are not affiliated to the T&TFRA and are therefore lacked quality for important final round of Super League games in Tobago.
The TRA was responsible for rostering referees from the beginning of the season for the Super League games in Tobago, but the organizers found it expedient and appointed referees from Trinidad to officiate in the two remaining Super League matches in Tobago that were played earlier in the week.
1976 FC Phoenix engaged WASA FC and Stokely Vale with a victory against Joe Public would be the Super League champions.
The TRA delivered a strongly worded letter to the organisers which states that they will not service the Super League until an urgent meeting is set up to treat with the situation.
" The change in having referees come from Trinidad clearly indicates a perceived bias against Tobago officials and this is deemed totally unacceptable," Bynoe explained.
He continued, "We can only interpret this action as an insult to us as Tobagonians and this can only succeed in furthering the divide between our people as citizens of the twin island Republic."
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