"Apparently" someone at BC Soccer had the balls to do something right for a change!?!?
After a brief exchange of words and a slight colision of chests after a Nations Cup Semi Final match this past summer, Brian Brum was given a 2 YEAR ban from playing, coaching or being affiliated with ANY team in the Province.
There was over 2500 local football followers who witnessed the incident of a "never personally experienced playing at a high level" linesman (or the emotions of a Nations Cup semi final) and the raw passion of one of the best keepers in the Province. It was Didar vs Brum in shootout which is the local equivilant to an International battle with Zenga vs Jennings or an NHL battle of Brodeur vs Roy. You could have cut the tension on the hill at Hugh Boyd that afternoon with a knife!
Didar makes a save, then Brum follows suit. Wait......the linesman waves his flag for Brum leaving his line early and the ref awards a re-kick. That kick goes in and India go on to defeat Portugal by the narrowest of margins, one goal in pk's.
At the conclusion Brum protests in frustration to the linesman who didn't make the same call twice even though both keepers had left their line early every kick after the questionable call. A slight bump of chests occur and the experienced referee jumps in to calm the situation knowing the player very well. End of story, no cards are shown and everyone disperses. However, the next thing Brum hears he's in the hollowed fortress on Water Street in front of BC Soccer's Discipine Commitee.
An arrogant Kangaroo Court style proceeding complete with a reluctancy to physically show Brian Brum the official match report by said Commitee was only the beginning of this dog and pony show.
His relatively clean record for over 8 years didn't matter.
His remorse and regret for acting out of frustration didn't matter.
The fact he never received a card of any colour didn't matter.
HOWEVER, after almost 2 1/2 months of bitting his tongue and time, Brian Brum has been cleared of all evil doings and will be able to resume training tonight.
He couldn't be happier, Peace Arch couldn't be happier and I truely believe local soccer is the winner.
The lesson that should be learned by all players is bite your tongue and don't approach game officials no matter how unfair or wrong their discision may seem at the time. When you get into a room with out of date dinosaurs, you don't stand a chance to be listened to or respected. They will throw the book at you faster than Jose Branco can fabricate a match report.
The lesson that BC Soccer has learned, get your bloody paperwork done in time and follow your own guidelines and procedures in the manual you quote every day. The failure for the board to follow BC Soccer Constitution protocol led to the appeals board to over turn this discision on a "technicality"! Maybe they need to start following their own advise and make all rulings by the book?
Sincerly, Guinness
After a brief exchange of words and a slight colision of chests after a Nations Cup Semi Final match this past summer, Brian Brum was given a 2 YEAR ban from playing, coaching or being affiliated with ANY team in the Province.
There was over 2500 local football followers who witnessed the incident of a "never personally experienced playing at a high level" linesman (or the emotions of a Nations Cup semi final) and the raw passion of one of the best keepers in the Province. It was Didar vs Brum in shootout which is the local equivilant to an International battle with Zenga vs Jennings or an NHL battle of Brodeur vs Roy. You could have cut the tension on the hill at Hugh Boyd that afternoon with a knife!
Didar makes a save, then Brum follows suit. Wait......the linesman waves his flag for Brum leaving his line early and the ref awards a re-kick. That kick goes in and India go on to defeat Portugal by the narrowest of margins, one goal in pk's.
At the conclusion Brum protests in frustration to the linesman who didn't make the same call twice even though both keepers had left their line early every kick after the questionable call. A slight bump of chests occur and the experienced referee jumps in to calm the situation knowing the player very well. End of story, no cards are shown and everyone disperses. However, the next thing Brum hears he's in the hollowed fortress on Water Street in front of BC Soccer's Discipine Commitee.
An arrogant Kangaroo Court style proceeding complete with a reluctancy to physically show Brian Brum the official match report by said Commitee was only the beginning of this dog and pony show.
His relatively clean record for over 8 years didn't matter.
His remorse and regret for acting out of frustration didn't matter.
The fact he never received a card of any colour didn't matter.
HOWEVER, after almost 2 1/2 months of bitting his tongue and time, Brian Brum has been cleared of all evil doings and will be able to resume training tonight.
He couldn't be happier, Peace Arch couldn't be happier and I truely believe local soccer is the winner.
The lesson that should be learned by all players is bite your tongue and don't approach game officials no matter how unfair or wrong their discision may seem at the time. When you get into a room with out of date dinosaurs, you don't stand a chance to be listened to or respected. They will throw the book at you faster than Jose Branco can fabricate a match report.
The lesson that BC Soccer has learned, get your bloody paperwork done in time and follow your own guidelines and procedures in the manual you quote every day. The failure for the board to follow BC Soccer Constitution protocol led to the appeals board to over turn this discision on a "technicality"! Maybe they need to start following their own advise and make all rulings by the book?
Sincerly, Guinness
