6 months ago
31
THOUGH CAVALIER FC women’s goalkeeper Danielle Flake has come under pressure for her role in a brawl between her and Arnett Gardens player Shanel Spence during a Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) top-of-the-table clash at the Anthony Spaulding Complex on Saturday, coach Everdean Scarlett said the club will not be taking any further action against her.
Cavalier were leading the match 2-0 through goals from Tamara O’Sullivan (75th minute) and Keresha Thomas (87th) when all hell broke loose in the first minute of added time. Spence was late to a ball but appeared to use her hand to nudge Flake in the face as they collided.
Flake reacted by slapping Spence in the face before a punch-up followed, with the former looking like the aggressor.
While players of both teams tried to separate the pair, Arnett substitute goalkeeper Karene Neil jumped in, landing a series of blows on the Cavalier shot-stopper before they were eventually pulled apart.
However, Scarlett insists Flake’s reaction was not as a result of the incident but came from a series of instances of provocation his players had endured throughout the match.
Although he said there was no justification for Flake’s reaction, he said there will be no reprimand from the club and that he will use her as soon as she becomes available.
“I thought my players were provoked from the start of the game and I tried to keep them calm.
“One Arnett player deliberately kicked one of my players from behind, and she fell and broke her wrist.
“I know the types of players I have and I had to be urging them to stay calm, because I wanted to finish the game.
“But every time we play Arnett, they always provoke my players, and it’s intentional,” he said.
He continued: “What my goalkeeper did, I can say nothing that would sanction what she did. I thought it was stupid of her. But I won’t stop her from playing. I will just talk to her and keep her in check.”
The two team will meet again this weekend in the knockout competition and Scarlett is hoping emotions from the last meeting are not carried over, as they have already put it behind them.
“We have them again this Saturday in the knockout, but my players have looked into the situation and have moved passed it and are ready to play,” he said.
Arnett Gardens coach Tamara Williams insisted both teams were guilty of aggressive play prior to the incident, and that tensions had been brewing even before the match, as Cavalier are made up of five former Arnett players.
“So they came with ulterior motives and to intimidate our players. But if the referee had nipped it early, it wouldn’t have gotten out of control,” said Williams.
She said the incident that led to the punch-up was a typical 50-50 collision and urged the Jamaica Football Federation to take a close look at the incident.
“My player was running towards the ball and her momentum carried her into the goalkeeper. I don’t know what transpired but she (Flake) smacked my player twice.
“I had just told her (Spence) I was going to pull her because I didn’t like how they were playing her, and she acknowledged that. But the play didn’t break for us to pull her out.
“But the tension had built from before and that caused the aggression towards each other,” she said.
She said the club condemned the incident and that action had already been taken against Neil.
“It was very distasteful, and we apologise for our part. That is not what the club represents. So I want to apologise to the Arnett Gardens community and the entire football fraternity as well.
“We just want to get this behind us. It was distasteful. So I am imploring my girls for their restraint (in knockout game Saturday). But I hope the federation takes a good look at what transpired at the end of the game,” she said.
Spence and Flake were both red-carded and will serve an automatic one-match ban. However, further suspensions could follow when the players face the disciplinary committee.
English (US) ·