JFF Captain Horace Burrell. - File

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, has issued a stern warning to the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) to enact measures to deal with the recent spate of disturbances involving spectators at schoolboy football matches.

Burrell departed from the main text of a speech delivered at the awards ceremony of the Jamalco Football League on Thursday night in Clarendon, to express his alarm at incidents which have seen disruptions in play, including daCosta Cup matches between St James and Cornwall at Jarrett Park, and the Holmwood Technical-Edwin Allen encounter in Christiana.

missile war

Burrell specifically quoted a radio sports report he heard on Thursday, which cited a missile war between supporters of two schools following a match.

The island's football boss had spent some time explaining the role and strides football had played in cooling tensions between top Premier League clubs Arnett Gardens and Tivoli Gardens.

However, he became noticeably animated, openly stating he would call ISSA chief, Dr Walton Small, to meet with his members and the school representatives and address the matter.

"This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated," said the former army man who is a member of FIFA's disciplinary committee. "Schoolboy and schoolgirls," he continued, " should be enjoying the game of football, but I am seeing a difference where teams and some unruly spectators are taking it to a level that the JFF will not sit back and tolerate."

savoury rhetoric

Earlier, Burrell had more savoury rhetoric for the organisers of the Jamalco League.

He said he endorsed their mission of putting together a team that would play in the Premier League, but added that they should broaden the concept by including young talents from around the world - specifically, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

Among the awards given were the $150,000 first prize to winners Sunset, leading goal-scorer award to Andrew Isaacs of Top Hill, and MVP of the finals, Michael Dixon, captain of Sunset. The Most Disciplined Award, named after Jamalco's managing director, Jerome Maxwell, was presented to Wembley.