Reigning national Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) intercol champs St Benedict's College hit another stumbling block when the league's appeals committee turned down their appeal in the boardroom matter involving star striker Derrel Garcia.

St Benedict's climbed to the top of the 2024 SSFL premier division table after an unbeaten season, but their world was turned upside down on December 30 when the SSFL's disciplinary committee stripped them of 12 points for their use of the 17-year-old Garcia, who was deemed ineligible for four matches. Fatima College, who had finished second to Benedict's in the initial standings, profited from the points deduction to assume the top spot on the table with 38 points.

'Please be informed that the appeals committee has upheld the decision of the disciplinary committee (regarding) Derrel Garcia,' said a January 14 release from the SSFL.

'St Benedict's College has the option to refer the matter to the arbitration committee by January 16, 2025.'

Newsday contacted Benedict's manager Ravi Ramgoolam and asked if the school had any intentions to take the matter to arbitration. Ramgoolam said he wasn't in a position to comment on the situation and referred Newsday to acting principal Gregory Quan Kep. Calls to Quan Kep went unanswered, along with a whatsapp message, which asked if Benedict's would accept the appeals committee's decision.

SSFL president Merere Gonzales said St Benedict's had not indicated if they were willing to take the matter to arbitration.

A correspondence from the SSFL to Quan Kep said any school who refers a matter to the arbitration committee must pay a $3,000 fee. If the appeal is successful at the level of the arbitration committee, the school will be refunded.

Time will determine if Benedict's, who were represented by attorney Christophe Brathwaite, deem it necessary to take their appeal a step further. However, the appeals committee of Rudolph Hope, Forbes Persaud and chairman Derek West felt they had enough information to reject the Benedict's appeal which was made by Quan Kep at the hearing on January 7.

In a decision which was made on January 10 and then communicated to Benedict's on January 13, the appeals committee said, 'it unanimously agreed that St Benedict's College failed to present sufficient information for the overturn of the decision of the disciplinary committee in this matter and therefore agreed that all sanctions applied as a consequence stand.'

In the appeal, Quan Kep opined that the report submitted by the disciplinary committee contained incorrect information regarding Garcia's first date of attendance, thus causing the committee to arrive at an 'irrational decision.' Quan Kep's submission also claimed the SSFL's Article 16 on player registration was vague and ambiguous, and suggested that 'in the absence of clarity, no penalty should be given.'

Quan Kep also contended that there were irrelevant considerations, inequitable treatment and bias