OSMOND Downer, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association, and the Port of Spain-based Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) are in a disagreement as to whether Skinner Park is suitable for local 11-a-side adult football matches.
This after an issue arose when the Southern Zone of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) declined to use the facility for the staging of the South Zone final, which will feature traditional rivals St Benedict’s College and Presentation College of San Fernando.
Contacted, SSFL president Merere Gonzales confirmed that the South Zone had considered Skinner Park as a venue, but had issues with both rental cost and the dimensions of the field. This week, when the SSFL stages its Coca-Cola InterCol zonal final, it will not be held at Skinner Park.
“First of all, Skinner Park is a fantastic venue,” Gonzales stated. “We have considered many venues in Trinidad and Tobago, including Skinner Park.”
Gonzales continued: “The measurements, as they are, are not suitable for senior football in the SSFL, including the Premier and the Championship. It will be taken up by the (South) Zone for consideration if they wish for the 13 and Under Boys and Girls, the 15 and Under Girls. The dimensions of the field facilitate for that age group.”
Another stakeholder, the Southern Football Association (SFA), held its season opening at Skinner Park earlier this season. President Dennis Latiff said the main issues for the SFA were the high cost of rental and a safety issue with water pipes close to the field, at either end of the ground.
Latiff has a meeting today at Skinner Park and will remeasure the field with a hope of using the facility in the future. “It (Skinner Park) meets the minimum requirement by FIFA,” Latiff stated, “But international matches cannot be played there.”
The SFA has also been battling to regain the office space it held at Skinner Park, prior to UDeCOTT’s intervention.
“We have been trying to get back our office. The SFA always had our office there (Skinner Park),” explained Latiff. “About the safety issue, we have an idea how we can fix that. The main problem is the cost.”
Downer has sided with the SSFL’s assessment that the ground is too small for senior football.
“The length must be between 100 yards and 120 yards. The width must be between 50 yards and 100 yards. The (FIFA) dimensions are clear,” said Downer.
‘Too small for a recognised game’
“I found it strange that the SSFL would take it upon themselves to say that the field was too small,” Downer stated. “Any competition recognised by the TTFA cannot be played on a field that doesn’t abide within these dimensions,” Downer pointed out, “And if the Skinner Park field is 90 yards long, it is too small for a recognised game,” he further emphasised.
However, UDeCOTT issued a statement, last Thursday, defending its work, indicating that Skinner Park is actually 90 metres long (closer to 100 yards) and not 90 yards.
“The field at Skinner Park surpasses the minimum standard for domestic football games, as set by world football governing body—The International Football Association. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) sets all laws governing the sport of football the world over,” the UDeCOTT communique stated.
“The minimum standard field for domestic games as set by the IFAB is 90m x 45m,” added the UDeCOTT media release issued from Roxanne Stapleton-Whymms, manager corporate communication and marketing.
FIFA regulations allow for some flexibility with regards to pitch size. FIFA dictates that a football pitch must be a maximum of 120 metres (130 yards) long and 90 metres wide (100 yards). A pitch can be a minimum dimension 90 metres long and 45 metres wide.
Based on FIFA guidelines, the English Football Association (FA) set the minimum dimension for 11-a-side football as 90 metres long (100 yds) x 45 metres (50 yds) wide.
The English FA also states that the maximum size of the playing field must be 120m (130 yds) long and 90m (100yds) wide. The playing area must be also rectangular.
According to UDeCOTT’s release, they have marginally surpassed those guidElines at Skinner Park. It added: “The Field at Skinner Park has dimensions of 90m x 50m—five metres more than the minimum required. Furthermore, the 90m x 50m dimensions have always been the dimensions of the Skinner Park field.”
UDeCOTT pointed out that the most noted change to the ground was the direction in which football was played, and also its overall improvement of the facility. The facility has a capacity for 6,000 patrons. It consists of a covered pavilion consisting of 3,000 seats and two uncovered pavilions of 1,500 seats each.
“Several stakeholders found improvements made at Skinner Park with its refurbishment, which vastly benefited them all, including the local governing bodies for netball, tennis, cycling and culture, as Skinner Park, as a multi-purpose facility, is used by them all,” the release added.
Upcoming Cola-Cola InterCol matches:
TODAY
(Central Zone)
Chaguanas North Secondary vs Miracle Ministries PHS 3.30 p.m., Edinburgh 500
TOMORROW
(East Zone)
San Juan North Secondary vs Arima North Secondary 3.30 p.m., Larry Gomes Stadium
WEDNESDAY
(Tobago Zone)
Speyside High vs Signal Hill, 5.15 p.m., Dwight Yorke Stadium
THURSDAY
(North Zone)
St Anthony’s College vs Queen’s Royal College, 4.15 p.m., Hasely Crawford
FRIDAY
(South Zone)
Presentation College vs St Benedict’s College, 4.15 p.m., Mahaica Oval
SOURCE: T&T Express
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