Butler gets red card as Manning Cup heats up
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fiery Craig Butler was red-carded on Friday after his team lost 0-1 to Eltham High in a heated game in which security had to enter the field at the end of the match at the Spanish Town Prison Oval as things threatened to get messy.
Butler moved menacingly towards the referee, who had to retreat at the end of the game before Butler was restrained and was shown the red card.
Butler explained his actions to Observer Online.
“The referee allowed no less than five blatant penalties to go, then they got the opener from a free kick after fouling my defender,” Butler said.
He continued: “Then he said nine minutes of time added on and played four and blew off the game with five minutes remaining”.
“They sent a young boy who just graduated from Jamaica College to ref a Mona versus Eltham game. Again, the conflict of interest continues. How can you send a JC old boy when JC benefits the greatest from a Mona loss?” he asked.
With Mona’s defeat, they have slipped to third in Group 4 with three points and was overtaken by both Eltham and JC on four points entering the final set of games on Wednesday.
JC are set to play Mona while Eltham play the pointless St Jago High with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, former champions St George’s College and Wolmer’s Boys’ were sent crashing from the competition after losing to Vauxhall High and Tivoli Gardens, respectively.
St George’s College lost 1-3 to Vauxhall in Group 3, while Tivoli Gardens stunned Wolmer’s Boys’ 2-0 in Group 1. Vauxhall jumped to the top of the group with four points, while the Light Blues from North Street remained pointless after two games and out of contention.
Tivoli Gardens moved into third spot in Group 1 with three points behind the same as Excelsior High which lost 0-1 to STATHS which booked their spot in the quarter final with six points.
In Group 2, champions Kingston College (KC) rebounded in style with a workmanlike 3-0 win over Campion College and kept their hopes of retaining their title alive after losing their opening game to be in third spot on three points.
Deshawn Byfield scored a hat-trick, netting in the 49th, 61st and 82nd minutes, taking his tally to 18 for the season, only four behind golden boot leader Sean Leighton of Mona Hogh on 22.
It was Byfield’s third hat-trick of the season and his school, KC, will get $50,000 from KFC for each hat-trick as the food chain giant celebrate their 50th anniversary. Byfield will collect $10,000 worth of KFC.
Calabar and Hydel High lead the group with four points after playing to a 1-1 draw. KC will face Calabar High on Wednesday in another must-win game, while Hydel tackle a Campion College team that has been eliminated.
Today’s results
Group 1, Excelsior 0, STATHS 1
Tivoli Gardens High 2, Wolmer’s Boys 0
Group 2
Campion College 0, KC 3
Calabar 1, Hydel 1
Group 3
Vauxhall 3, STGC 1
Group 4
Eltham 1, Mona 0
JC 2, St Jago 1
