LOCAL schoolboy giants St George’s College and Kingston College could find themselves in hot water as the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) prepares to investigate allegations that the two used ineligible players in this season’s Manning Cup competition.

In the meantime, ISSA — the governing body for local schools sports — wants new principals to attend a seminar to apprise them of the rules governing schoolboy football competitions, president Dr Walton Small told the Observer.

“We’ve taken the decision this year based on what we see is happening, that all new principals will have to be exposed to the expectations as to the rules and regulations, because a lot of them assume the position and do not fully understand their role and responsibilities as it relates to sport,” said Small.

His statement comes in the wake of news that two-time defending Manning Cup champions St George’s College and KC could have sanctions brought against them for the use of ineligible players in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel competition.

ISSA rules stipulate that students must attain a certain average at the end of the previous term to be eligible for the next season’s competitions.

However, according to ISSA’s competitions co-ordinator George Forbes, who told the Observer he learnt of the breaches on Wednesday, the two schools each used a player whose grades were not up to standard at the end of the last school year after giving them make-up tests at the start of this term.

The players were subsequently added to their schools’ football rosters as late registrations.

Forbes told the Observer he heard that several other schools have been involved in this practise, with one school having used as many as four players in this manner.

“We’re investigating a number of schools,” he said.

Forbes said a disciplinary committee meeting would be held next week to hear the cases. He said the punishment could range from a docking of points to the schools being expelled from the competition.

In the past, ISSA rules allowed for schools to give students make-up tests, but Dr Small said that was thrown out after some school officials abused the system.

“They would just come in, give them a small test that is not standardised, and they get qualified and just come in, so we recognised that that’s a loophole and we locked it out,” he told the Observer.

“It is not easy to manage those principals,” he added.

Forbes said he was especially upset because there was an extensive meeting held to deal with this particular matter in January.

“This issue was dealt with at length at the last principals’ meeting,” said Small. “But unfortunately, some of the principals didn’t come to

the meeting.

“The amendments were taken out and printed, so we’re not going to excuse anybody at all. Ignorance is not an excuse,” he declared.