KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has admitted to a significant referee error during the Walker Cup final penalty shootout between Jamaica College and St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) at the National Stadium last Friday.

In a statement, ISSA said the decision by match official Tyrone Robinson to order a retake of a spot kick during the penalty shootout was a mistake.

Jamaica College won the game 7-6 in sudden death penalties after the teams had played out a 1-1 draw after regulation time.

The scores were locked at 6-6 in sudden death penalties when STATHS’ goalkeeper Jaheem Williams saved a kick from Jamaica College’s Zinodean McLean to give his team an advantage. However, McLean appealed that the ball had moved just before he kicked it, prompting fourth official Kesla Anderson to alert central referee Robinson, who subsequently ordered a retake despite strenuous protests from the STATHS coaches and officials.

The controversial decision to allow a retake during the shootout led to an official protest by STATHS.

In a letter to Dr Worrell Hibbert, the principal of STATHS, over the signature of president Keith Wellington, ISSA said after discussions internally and with the Jamaica Football Referees Association, it was concluded that the match officials had erred.

As a result, the four man officiating team – Robinson, assistant referees Ricton Archer and Ricardo McKenzie, and fourth man Anderson –have been removed “from active duty” and will undergo “a remedial programme of training for the said team of referees.”

ISSA said it “understands that the circumstances under which STATHS were defeated are indeed unfortunate and empathises with the STATHS family.

“We are mindful of the impact this may have on the team’s morale and we are open to assist in any way to ensure that they are able to rebound from this situation,” ISSA said.

However, ISSA noted that neither the laws of the game nor its competition rules allows for a reversal of the referees’ decision.

It’s not the first time officials have been sanctioned due to a significant error in an ISSA final.

In 2010, the officiating crew in the daCosta Cup final played at Jarrett Park was suspended after a handball that resulted in a goal at the end of the second period of extra time that saw Rusea’s High beat Lennon High 1-0.

Also that year, the crew that officiated in the all-island Under-14 football final between rural area champions Cornwall College and Corporate Area champion Jamaica College was suspended after a hand ball led to a goal that saw Jamaica College win the game.

-Paul A Reid