FFB Appeals Committee lifts Altitude’s one-game spectator ban, fans to be allowed tonight against Progresso at Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence

Photo Credit: Altitude

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: FFB Appeals Committee on Saturday lifted the Altitude’s one-game fans ban and spectators will be allowed tonight against Progresso FC in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) match at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence/Mango Creek.

On Wednesday, August 24, the PLB’s Disciplinary Committee chaired by David Jones imposed a one-game spectator ban on Altitude and set a $1500 fine on Altitude for the field invasion of three fans who physically accosted Jessie August of Verdes on Saturday, August 20, 2022. The three fans involved, namely Anthony Williams, Justin Garbutt, and Ivan Castillo, were also banned for the rest of the season. The three will have to watch on television or from the trees outside the stadium.

Though Altitude maintained that Verdes players were responsible for the fracas, the club acknowledged that their fans acted irresponsibly and said the cub doesn’t condone any act of violence. The Southern club also complained that the security forces hired to control the game didn’t do their job appropriately.

Altitude paid the monetary fine but immediately appealed the stadium ban.

The FFB’s Appeals Committee, which has been inactive since 2019, finally met on Friday and handed its decision on Saturday lifting the ban so that Altitude can allow fans at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium tonight.

Altitude raised the fence around the stadium by four feet and will ensure that all access gates to the field are locked during the game.

The club, however, is concerned that the decision took so long to be made and handed on the very day of the match because there is a lot of preparation that clubs have to do before their home games, particularly the top clubs like Altitude, Verdes, and the San Pedro Pirates. Altitude, for example, said they prepare customized tickets for their games and have to prepare their bar and food ahead of time and that’s not an overnight process.

The Altitude-Progresso match kicks off at 7:30 pm at the Michael Ashcroft

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