French Quarter:--A brawl between some football players on Friday has left one under 17 youth hospitalized confirmed head of sports Lou Baly. The youth is nursing a fractured nose and is scheduled to remain in hospital until Tuesday.
Baly said a team of players representing the U-17 and U-15 from the Newtown Team in St. Kitts and players from Flamingo and the St. Louis Stars were in the Telbert Carty Stadium on Friday when a fight broke out. According to Baly, the coaches of either St. Kitts team or the St. Martin team did not see what had happen but according to what they understand a player who was, stretching on the field during their cool down time got in the way of the players from St. Martin who was running around the field at the time.
Baly said they do not know if the youth who was stretching on the field at the time did anything intentional or if it was an accident. He further explained that because of this an argument began which ended up physical and landing six youths the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital. However, most of them suffered minor cuts and bruises.
Baly said those on the field did everything to separate the players and they managed to get the U-17 team that was involved in the brawl in the changing rooms. While in that room the players from St. Martin followed and again the argument continued and got worse. He said the worst part of the incident began when some players who were locked out of the change room attacked some U-15 players from St. Kitts. Baly said the smaller youths were not involved in the fracas instead they were on the stands looking on but those who were locked out of the change room attacked them simply because they could not get in.
The sportsman and local representative said President of the Collectivity Frantz Gumbs went to the hotel where the players were staying to apologize for the incident and to offer the neighboring island some comfort but they decided that the French side was not a safe place and voluntarily left for the Dutch side of the island. The players he said are staying with friends and relatives on the Dutch side of the island and they are expected to leave on Monday.
In the meantime, a press release appearing on SKN Vibes website states that following the game involving the St. Kitts U-17 vs. the French St. Martin U-17 in St. Martin, which ended in a 2-2 draw, the St. Kitts U-17 team was attacked by players of the French St. Martin U-17 and their supporters.
The SKNFA U-15 team who at the time were witnessing the match also came under attack by spectators. Several of our players in both U-17 and U-15 sustained injuries and were hospitalized. At least one player from the U-17 remains in the hospital.
The SKNFA is very disturbed and concerned about this recent development in St. Martin and has activated our Emergency Committee to put in place a plan of action to deal with this crisis. The SKNFA would like to ensure all parents of the U-17 and U-15 teams and the entire St. Kitts-Nevis community that the safety of our young footballer is of paramount importance at this time.
The SKNFA has already contacted the parents of the players who were injured as a result of this incident and has apprised them of the situation.
The SKNFA has contacted the various Government officials and ministries, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Sam Condor, Minister of Sports, Honourable Richard Skerritt, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Lloyd Lazar and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mrs. Astonia Browne for assistance in dealing with this serious matter.
The SKNFA is also in contact with the local LIAT representatives and other airlines to bring the players home as soon as possible.
Measures have also been put in place to ensure the safety of all our players and their coaches in St. Martin until their return home.
The SKNFA would like to ensure all parents that we are doing all within our powers to address the current situation and get the players and coaches home as soon as possible.
