Falmouth United, Head Coach Dean Weatherly has expressed “disappointment and regret” after the team was fined $30,000 and points awarded to Reno FC after their Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Championships game set for Elleston Wakeland Centre on Saturday was called off.

Falmouth United were found to be in breach of Article 34.i after the field was not prepared for the game to be played. Weatherly told the Jamaica Observer on Monday, “The lawn mower we used to cut the field was not working” and expressed regret at the situation.

“It’s sad that the game was not played as both teams had put in a lot of preparation and we were looking to start the season on a good note,” he said.

Weatherly pointed out that the setback would be significant as “this means that our window for dropping points has gotten much smaller” as we have to find ways to recoup these points and we cannot lose too many games if we want to compete for the title”.

Falmouth United, which is owned by Rohan Marley, son of late reggae icon Bob Marley, have played in all three seasons of the competition, making it to the semi-finals in the 2021-22 season and finishing seventh last season.

A release from the JFF on Monday said the sanctions for the field not being ready to host the game meant “the game has been awarded to Reno FC by a scoreline of three goals to nil (3-0).

“Falmouth United FC has been fined $30,000, to be paid by 31 January 2024. Falmouth United FC has been referred to the JFF disciplinary and ethics committee for further sanctions”.