Despite a review by ISSA confirming that a controversial penalty in last Friday's Walker Cup final should not have been retaken, the governing body for local high school sports says the decision will not be overturned.
Eventual champions Jamaica College and St Andrew Technical had played out a 1-1 draw following regulation time and remained locked after regular penalty kicks, sending the game into sudden death penalties.
JC saw their seventh kick saved by the STATHS goalie but moments later the fourth official advised the referee in the middle that the ball had rolled prior to the kick and a retake was ordered.
That kick was scored and when STATHS missed their next kick, Jamaica College were crowned Walker Cup champions, but STATHS protested and filed an appeal.
In a letter dated December 10 over the signature of ISSA president Keith Wellington, ISSA revealed that their investigations have concluded that the referee blundered in ordering the retake.
ISSA says the laws of the game do not allow a retake under the circumstances as existed.
The letter continued:"While the decision taken by the referee was one in error of the law, neither the laws of the game nor ISSA’s competition rules, allow for a reversal of the referee's decision".
The referees in question have been removed from active duties and remedial training programmes ordered by their organization.
ISSA ended the letter to the STATHS principal by saying it understands that the circumstances were unfortunate and is mindful of the impact it may have on the STATHS family and is open to assisting them to rebound from the situation.
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