A video posted online, which has surpassed 140 thousand views on Facebook, depicts TCIFA General Secretary Responsible for Coaching, Oliver Smith walking onto the football pitch in Providenciales and ripping a football out of the hands of member of the Haitian team.
This was after an exciting Concacaf World Cup Qualifier match-up between the TCI and Haitian football teams which ended in a 10-0 victory for the Haitian team. The initial reaction from the public ranged from anger to confusion.
Mr. Smith following the action has issued an apology to all who witnessed the ordeal via RTC Sports:
“On June 5, 2021, approximately 10 to 15 minutes after a World Cup qualifier game between the Turks and Caicos Islands and Haiti Men’s National Team there was an exchange between some members of the Haitian football team and I.
The exchange was as a result of the Haitian Team’s refusal to return footballs belonging to the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association. My response was not in keeping with established protocols, and was unbecoming of a representative of the TCIFA. For that I apologize to all affected parties.
This situation serves as a poignant reminder to all stakeholders to remain respectful of each other, and that football is a sport which unites all nations and creeds. It is through this sport that opportunities for advancement have been made available to many persons living in the Turks and Caicos Islands irrespective of nationality.
We all have a role in safeguarding the sanctity of the game, and we must never allow tempers or egos to overshadow its purpose. I am now equally painfully reminded of that and again express my apology.”
RTC’s Ruthea Robinson got the chance to ratify some of the details surrounding the incident in an exclusive interview with the President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association, Sonia Fulford. She explained that prior to the incident the match was a beautiful 90 minutes of football and that the video only captured an excerpt of the heat of the moment caused by emotions running high.
The confrontation started because of the confusion surrounding who keeps the footballs used in the game. In football culture a well known practice is that when a team or player performs a hat trick, which is the achievement of a generally positive feat (goal) three times in a game, they would take home the football that was used. In this case the team that performed the hat trick was Haitian team were allowed to keep one of the match balls after the match but were unaware that the TCI equipment manager was looking to put away the rest of the balls, two of which the Haitian team was still holding on to.
Smith went to retrieve these balls and after asking the Haitian team’s coach for assistance and after receiving none, he sought to collect them himself.
This, according to the President, led to Smith taking the ball from one of the Haitian players as seen in the viral video.
The president noted that beyond the confusion surrounding the possession of the balls there were other protocols that were being ignored by both teams. For instance, both teams were supposed to leave the field immediately after the match officially ended, however both teams stayed on the field.
The President stated that she does not condone the actions of the General Secretary in any way. However, she does acknowledge that both sides had a role in escalating the confrontation. On the note of taking disciplinary actions, she clarified that she cannot disclose the specifics but that the association is currently investigating the situation and is internally dealing with the matter.
She also shared a heart-felt apology on behalf of Smith and the Association saying that he wanted to take part in the interview but she advised against his appearance. The president did not mention what she thought the reaction of the TCI Sports Commission would be but noted that internationally situations like these are common place and that she has personally witnessed much worse incidents.
The President ended by stating that there will be immediate action taken to ensure that an incident like this does not happen again.
Following that interview, RTC Sports on Wednesday June 9th received an email from the TCIFA on the actions that will be taken against Mr. Smith:
Following the unfortunate incident involving our General Secretary, Oliver Smith, after the completion of our World Cup Qualifier game versus Haiti this past Saturday, an internal review of the incident and our General Secretary’s conduct has been undertaken by the TCIFA Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee has found that the General Secretary brought the TCIFA into disrepute, and did not act in the best interests of football or the FA. We acknowledge the sincere remorse and public apology of the General Secretary, however, the decision has been made to suspend the General Secretary with immediate effect for two months from all football activities.
Protocols will be more strictly enforced in the future added Mrs. Sonia Fulford.
