Stiff ban for Paul

PINELANDS will be making a return to the Digicel Premier League next year but won’t have their inspirational captain and one-time Barbados footballer Lionel Paul in their line-up for the  first eight matches  of the season.
Paul, an attacking midfielder, was handed  an eight-match ban by the Barbados Football Association’s (BFA) Disciplinary Committee on August 7 for using abusive language in his team’s final match against Maxwell on July 15 which ended prematurely.
A number of Pinelands players were red-carded by referee Royon Small, who subsequently blew off the game midway  into the second half  when their teammates responded aggressively  to his decision.
Pinelands, who had already clinched the Banks Division One title with an unassailable 44 points, were leading 1-0  at the time but the match was later awarded to Maxwell by the BFA’s tournament committee.
It could get worse  for the Pinelands side as two of Paul’s teammates are also facing charges resulting from their conduct during that  match and are scheduled to meet with the disciplinary committee.    
Apart from Paul, who played a leading role  in Akademiks’ capture  of the LIME Pelican Challenge title last year, Kirk Beckles of Beverley Hills has also been given an eight-match suspension for the start of the 2014 season for using insulting and abusive language in his team’s match against Crompton on June 8.
A number of other footballers won’t be able  to suit up at the start  of the 2014 season  for offences committed during this year’s season.
Dave Alleyne of Parish Land has been banned from playing, managing  or coaching in any of the BFA’s competitions for the first four matches after he was found guilty of using offensive, insulting and abusive language.
Rico Brathwaite  of L&R United and Damon Lawrence of Hoytes Ambassadors have been suspended for the first two matches of next season for violent conduct and using abusive and insulting language, respectively.
Devon Linton of Victoria Sports Club, Dario Greaves of Hoytes Ambassadors and Ryan Alleyne of Porey Spring will all miss their teams’ first game of next season.
Kick Start’s Aqiyl Cumberbatch, Cave Hill’s Michael Herbert, Blackspurs’ Renacko Thompson and Haynesville’s Shamari Stevenson are among  a number of footballers who have been barred from playing until  they meet with the disciplinary committee.