... Get tough on rebel supporters

BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

CATHERINE HALL, St James — Montego Bay United will soon start blacklisting supporters who smoke ganja and use profanities at their Red Stripe Premier League home games.

Orville Powell, president of the promoted club, said he will come down hard on those who chose to break the laws of the country and create discomfort for other fans at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Yesterday, less than 24 hours after their stirring come from behind penalty kicks win over Portmore United in the Red Stripe Premier League End-of-Round final at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, Powell told the Observer he plans to create a wholesome atmosphere at the games.

"Ganja smoking is not legal in Jamaica and it will not be tolerated in the stadium," he told the Observer in an interview.

For decades police have looked the other way at sporting events while fans openly smoked ganja, but Powell said that will not be tolerated at their home games.

"I will be coming down hard on the police at our games to make sure these people are told their presence will not be tolerated," he said.

Additionally, he said that while trying to create a family atmosphere, the overzealous fans that choose to curse loudly at players on the field will also be asked to leave.

"We know who these people are and we will be instructing those in charge of the gate not to take their tickets or their money, we don't need them here," Powell said.

"We will accept the handful of those who choose to obey the law and who want to come watch football in a decent atmosphere without the bad words or ganja smoking," he said.

Powell, who has also been involved with Seba United and Village United in the past, pointed to some innovations they have been trying to introduce in games.

"We have adopted what we see happening in Europe where we have young children escorting the teams on to the field at the start of the games. These children are taken there by their parents who will stay for the games and we don't want them being chased away by anti-social behaviour by the minority," he pointed out.

"These children might not otherwise be exposed to the game and we need to keep them involved," he added.

Another part of the Montego Bay United home games is drumming, he said, which creates a unique experience throughout the game.

"This is the type of environment we want to create here and we can't allow those who want to spoil that to turn away the positive influences," Powell told the Observer.