Following violence following Football matches in the youth categories, the Guadeloupean Football League (LGF) suspends the U15, U17 and U19 competitions for boys for the rest of the year. Actions will be put in place to combat violence.
Violence continues to gain ground in amateur football, particularly among young people.
Sunday December 8, in Goyave, at the end of the match between the U19s of Real Sport Goyave and the JSVH, a player from the Habs club was beaten up by around ten individuals.
Lucien Hatchi, coach of the JSVH U19s, witnessed the aggression of his player. For him, it's obvious, it all started during the match. It was he who was drawn to referee this championship match between the two teams, following the referee's defection. Following a tackle that he judges “dangerous“, he excluded a Guava player. A decision discussed. At the end of the match, with a parity score, 2 goals everywhere, Lucien Hatchi says he was insulted and threatened. Then, individuals entered the enclosure of the stadium.
©Guadeloupe
The victim ended up in the emergency room with 3 days of ITT (temporary total incapacity).
Three days after the events, returning to Goyave to finalize the complaint filed by the president of the JSVH, Aline Carel with the gendarmerie, the leader confided to having lost sleep. “My players are traumatized. Parents don't even want their kids to come to football anymore… I'm really touched for football in Guadeloupe” laments Lucien Hatchi.
©Guadeloupe
This violence had already occurred on the sidelines of a U17 Regional 2 football match, between the Black Swan and the CSC/CAM agreement, on November 30. Severals players of the Capesterian team had been brutally attackedafter the shower, when returning to their bus ; severely beaten and stung by bladed weapons, many are now traumatized.
The most serious case, a boy seriously injured in the groin, had to be quickly operated on the following night ; he is now out of trouble.
After these incidents of serious violence that have occurred in recent weeks, in a press release this Wednesday, the Guadeloupean Football League announces that it will suspend from December 14, 2024 and until the end of the year, all matches in men's youth competitions ( U15G, U17G and U19G). This decision does not concern the U16F women's championships, which will continue as planned.
The League Council, after a meeting “in emergency“, Tuesday evening, justifies this suspension by the need to restore a climate of serenity and to take action to combat this violence, explains Jean Dartron, president of the LGF.
Disciplinary proceedings are also planned against the perpetrators of violent acts who have been dismissed. In addition, the League plans to systematically support victims by filing a complaint.
During this interruption, the League invites clubs to organize awareness-raising activities with their youth teams.
Beyond the immediate measures, the Guadeloupean Football League plans to launch a broad consultation involving all football stakeholders, local authorities, the State and CROSGUADELOUPE.
The objective is clear: to find lasting solutions to guarantee the safety of young players, protected from violent behavior which harms the spirit of sport.
©Guadeloupe
