I was among the many fans who watched in great disappointment last Saturday afternoon as St George's College wrecked St James High School's triple crown bid at Jarrett Park, spanking them 2-0 to win the 2008 Olivier Shield final 3-2 on aggregate.

However, like the scores of decent law-abiding fans who accepted the result in good grace, I totally reject the disgraceful behaviour of those so-called fans, who, out of ignorance, masked as frustration and coloured with stupidity threw bottles at match officials and gave St James High an unwarranted black-eye.

best interest

While I can't say for sure who threw the bottles, I am pretty sure that noone with the best interest of St James High School at heart participated in that disgraceful scenario because they would have known the great work the school's administration, especially principal Joseph Williams, has done in repairing the tattered image the school once had.

Regardless of how one felt about the quality of the officiating in the game, there was no justification for the bottle-throwing, especially if one embraces the true concept of good sportsmanship. I have spoken with several bonafide St James High School fans, who were at the game, and I am yet to find one person, who participated in or endorsed the throwing of bottles.

It is, therefore, with much disappointment, that I listened to a statement that ISSA's sports co-ordinator George Forbes made in the aftermath of the game. Unless I am not reading him right, it would appear that he is intimating that the home team, which in this case would be St James High, could be penalised for what happened.

Firstly, I would like to know how ISSA is going to make a determination as to who were genuine St James High School supporters and who were just common hoodlums cashing in on an opportunity to make trouble. I seriously doubt that such a distinction can be made because it was not like the perpetrators were students in uniform or flag-waving past students.

It is a pity that Forbes does not appear to be sufficiently aware about life in St James because he would have realised, probably like president Dr Walton Small, who has roots in this part of the island, that St James is a parish in crisis brought on by rampant indiscipline and the absence of positive values.

However, should he check the police statistics, he would probably discover that crime is at an all-time high in St James with over 200 murders this year. If the police, despite implementing several new strategies, are not able to put a lid on the lawlessness, it must be warped thinking to expect a school, which is not a military academy, to control these people at a football game.

Instead of trying to make a scapegoat out of St James High and spoil their joy of winning both the Ben Francis KO and the daCosta Cup, I believe ISSA should review its own arrangements for the game at Jarrett Park. The bottle-throwing incident was confined to just one stand and from all indications had there been adequate security, the situation could have been quickly curtailed.

bottle policy

In addition, ISSA needs to review its policy of allowing the selling of bottled drinks at schoolboy matches because at Jarrett Park, it was the glass bottles that became the missiles that rained on the match officials. I must congratulate Montego Bay's Mayor, Councillor Charles Sinclair, for banning the selling of these bottles at Jarrett Park with immediate effect.

Before making any additional statement, ISSA probably needs to properly review what unfolded at Jarrett Park. St James High School should not be blamed for the folly of persons, who were probably only exercising parochial loyalty and probably have no real interest in whether or not the school is seen in a good or bad light.

NB: Feel free to send your feedback to adrianfrater@hotmail.com