REFEREE JAVIER JAUREGUI of the Netherlands Antilles has paid the penalty for awarding two controversial penalties which helped Trinidad and Tobago come from a goal down to defeat Barbados 2-1 in a Group A Digicel Caribbean Championships match last Friday night at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.
Reports also indicate that he received a poor report from referees inspector Carlos Ortiz and has been barred from officiating in any more international matches indefinitely.
The poor judgment by Jauregui, on both calls, severely hurt Barbados' chances of getting into the final round of four teams, which will also gain automatic berths in next year's prestigious CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
Jauregui's first error was when he adjudged that Barbadian midfielder Romelle Burgess had committed a foul in the six-yard box in the 42nd minute. Television replays indicated that the diminutive Eden Stars player had played only the ball in trying to clear.
Errol McFarlane converted the resulting penalty, levelling the score a 1-1. The recalled 37-year-old veteran Gregory Goodridge had given Barbados the lead in the 14th minute.
Goalkeeper Alvin Rouse, who protested the call by Jauregui, was given a first yellow card for his conduct by the referee, who hails from the Dutch island of Curacao.
To add insult to injury, Rouse was given a second yellow and immediately sent off in the second half for what appeared to be a collision with Trinidadian player Osei Telesford in a one-on-one situation.
It resulted in Rouse having to miss Sunday's crucial game against Grenada at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.
Barbados' assistant coach Jerry Skeete had noted that it looked "very unusual and strange" for Barbados to concede three penalties in two games.
The other penalty was in their first game, against host country Jamaica, when the ball hit the forearm of defender Bryan Neblett as he moved away from the goal.
Luck just didn't go Neblett's way in that match, as he also scored an own goal.