Premier League of Belize Investigates Attack on Player in Independence Village

On the Phone: Wilhelm Miguel

The Premier League of Belize (P.L.B.) is investigating the circumstances surrounding a brawl that took place at the end of a football match between Altitude FC and Verdes FC in Independence Village. At the end of the game, a group of fans stormed on to the football field and attacked a member of Verdes FC’s football team. Wilhelm Miguel, the General Secretary of the P.L.B., says the investigation may result in sanctions against the host team.  He also noted that the incident has brought to the fore issues of security at these P.L.B. games. Here is what he told us over the phone.

On the Phone: Wilhelm Miguel, General Secretary,  P.L.B.

“There is a process and protocol that is followed within the league as it pertains to any kind of disciplinary sanctions, or any kind of violence. And, we have what we call the disciplinary committee that will review all the clippings that has been sent to him, and they will determine based on what they see, questioning of personnel, and so on, and then they will make their decision. That decision will be passed down to whosoever, either the club or particularly a player, and in this case I know there were fans there. So, it could be sanctions where it might be from both the club’s side, as far as I am aware, I am not sure if there were any players, apart from him, that were being hurt or attacked during the period of the time. It is something we wouldn’t want to happen in these games. One of the first things that immediately comes to mind, are the security that we have at these games adequate or there is a need for more?”