By Joe Chapman

ORGANISERS have confirmed that Botofago will face Amelia’s Ward Panthers in tonight’s final of the Osmond Cummings Memorial Under-20 football tournament at the MSC ground in Linden.

There was controversy surrounding the tournament, after second semi-final winners Milerock FC were found in breach of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) constitution during the said match against the Panthers.

The Panthers, on August 19, brought the breach to the attention of the UDFA via an appeal, claiming that two ineligible players appeared for Milerock who had won the game 4-2 on penalties, after regulation play ended goalless.

However, there remains some disquiet among football fans, based on reports, following a meeting of the UDFA Executive Committee on Monday.

In a release to the clubs, Organising Secretary of the UDFA, James Trotman, said the matter was referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

According to Trotman, Milerock FC violated “Article 5.5 of UDFA Constitution and for the breach, the Amelia’s Ward Panthers were declared winners of the second semi-final match.

Trotman said that the advice given by the Competitions Committee Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation, Mr Ian Alves, in accordance with FIFA says, “Under all circumstances, due consideration must be given to the sporting integrity of the competition. In particular, a player may not play official matches for more than two clubs competing in the same national championship or cup during the same season, subject to stricter individual competition regulations of member associations”.

He concluded that “the UDFA in the end decides how the competition is run”.

But, to this, Claude Williams of the Milerock FC, who is a vice-president of the UDFA noted that Alves, when contacted by the UDFA “made a ruling that Milerock won the game” and that they would be playing the final.

Milerock claimed that the transfer of the two players occurred during the 2018 GFF transfer window and as such were eligible to play.

Organisers, meanwhile, say they cannot afford to await the result of that impasse and Milerock will instead play the third place against Eagles United.