Minister John Saldivar Weighs In on Shooting at Football Match

On Monday night, a fight broke out at Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan. It happened during a football match between Galen University and the University of Belize. When the fight started, an-off duty police officer pulled out a firearm and fired warning shots in the air. Today, Minister John Saldivar commented on the matter in his capacity as President of the Bandits and also offered his take on the officer’s use of a weapon.

John Saldivar

John Saldivar, President, Bandits Football Club

“I can tell you though that as the President of Bandits that we have already acted in terms of the one player that plays on our football club that person has been suspended for three games pending the result of investigations by the university and by the F.F.B. who may choose to take further sanctions against that player and other players that are involved. With respect to the firing of weapons, my understanding from reading the reports is that it has now been confirmed that it was off duty police officers who were attending the game and when they saw the fight break out and the crowd swarming the field they took to the field to try to control the manner in the best way they could and that included firing a few warning shots. I know that the officers have been commended by the organizers of the game in being able to bring the matter to a quick conclusion before any further injuries. One of the things about policing is that there is no script, no text book that we can follow how to deal with situations as they unfold and those officers had to use their best judgment as to how to bring the matter under control and they felt that firing some warning shots was the best way and we can never tell whether it was right or wrong. The situation was diffused and so we have to assume that their act, acting in and intervening at that time is a part of why it was diffused without any major injury.”