MINISTRY OF YOUTH & SPORTS, R.L.

PRESS RELEASE

(Wednesday, December 16, 2015 – Buchanan, Liberia) – Five football players and four officials of Sinoe County have been banned from the ongoing National County Sports Meet for assaulting match officials, police and disrupting the game Sinoe versus Bassa on Tuesday, December 15 at the Doris Williams Sports Stadium in Buchanan.

Speaking to reporters after announcing the decision during a technical meeting attended by representatives of both Sinoe and Grand Bassa officials, Youth & Sports Minister Eugene Nagbe described the incident as unacceptable and intolerable.

Minister Nagbe said after a review of the referee and match commissioner reports along with other evidences, the Technical Committee banned players Alex Doe, Jeff Kai, Marcus Weah, Kofie Browne, and Emmanuel Quainah along with officials including Sinoe County Development Superintendent Sneh Johnson, Technical Director D. D. Desmond, Head Coach Truma Barclay, and Team Medic Junior Doe, from the 2015-2016 tournament.

In keeping with the rules, Grand Bassa County has been awarded the match with 3 points and 2 goals. Sinoe has also been fined 1,500 United States Dollars.

“There may be additional sanctions of these individuals including a permanent ban; we are not going to accept violence and indiscipline”, Minister Nagbe said.

Meanwhile, as the preliminary rounds conclude the final sets of matches today, Minister Nagbe has urged match officials to utilize the laws of the game and remain prudent to stamp out match-fixing and other ugly vices from the County Meet.

Signed by:
N. MaCaulay Paykus
Director of Public Affairs