Spitting Incident: Smith Banned For Five Years

January 15, 2014

The Bermuda Football Association has banned football player Detroy Smith for five years for spitting at referee Anthony Francis during the match in St. Georges on Boxing Day.

The statement from the BFA said: “The Bermuda Football Association wishes to advise that St. David’s Cricket Club player Detroy Smith has been banned from participating in the BFA’s programs for five (5) years by the Disciplinary Committee after he was found guilty of spitting at referee Anthony Francis during the Friendship Trophy match at Wellington Oval, St. Georges on Boxing Day.

“The Disciplinary Committee, which is independent in its function from the BFA’s Executive Council found no place for this kind of behavior in football.

“BFA President Larry Mussenden echoed these sentiments by saying the “Disciplinary Committee has sent a clear message to everyone that spitting at another person is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. There is no excuse regardless of the circumstances that should bring a player or any person for that matter of fact to such action whether on or off the field.”

“Spitting is a serious offense in a civilized society, in particular, the sport of football that promotes fair play and respect for each other. In this regard, everyone is reminded that there are rules and there are consequences for breaking the rules.

“We have had no incidents of this kind for quite a long time and we trust this is a one off occurrence. All players are reminded to respect the Laws of the Game and the fair play values that are exchanged at the beginning of each match between players and officials.”

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Comments (38)

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  1. Kangoocar says:

    Now can the law step in and arrest and prosecute this sick individual for assault??? My sentence would be, the whole of Bermuda lining up and spit in his ugly face!!!!!

    • hmmm says:

      Wasn’t this guy already arrested for assault… a few years back?

    • getyourlife says:

      stfu so that would make the other 65k + bermudians fd up people to right?! you seem confused GO NIGHT NIGHT

    • thats right says:

      What a result. Should impose better fines than that. Bit soft but glad they are finally stepping up and respecting referees. No excuse for bad behaviour. Take a seat and smarten up.

  2. Lol says:

    F*** BFA! detroy ya a model citizen!

    • Mike says:

      I don’t know the dude, but what kind of role model spits at another person… let alone a ref? That is all I know about him. He spits at other people. Unacceptable.

      • BDA18 says:

        I wouldn’t say Detroy is a ‘model citizen’ but he definitely is not as bad as people are making him out to be. Every time I have been around Detroy and talked to him he has been a nice guy.

        But, to each their own, I just hope he finds a good path follow in his future.

        • getyourlife says:

          Ignorance seems as if it is going both ways with these comments. it doesnt make any of you look better than him

        • crackattack says:

          Search for his name on bernews and look at his history for the last 4 years. “Not as bad as people are making him out to me”? From the looks of it, he is much much worse

    • Agree says:

      Until he spits at you then wha

    • astalavista baby says:

      hmmm makes me wonder if you might be the fool that spit.

      Oh well you can always play FIFA World Cup on Xbox One and PS4.

    • getyourlife says:

      D**N RIGHT!

    • Daily Mail says:

      A model citizen… Pfft… You must be Detroy or someone who has as many issues with rules and the law as he has.. What a cry baby…

    • The Messenger says:

      Lol says:
      January 15, 2014 at 7:57 pm
      F*** BFA! detroy ya a model citizen!

      Lol,

      There is truth to the sayings: “Birds of a feather flock together”; “great minds think alike–I say small minds think alike too”. I encourage you to visit the thesaurus nearest you to search the meaning of the words “MODEL CITIZEN”. When you learn the true meaning you will not condone his deplorable conduct. If you are friends and he is such a model citizen then you should be able to go to him and point out the error of his ways. Or, maybe you shouldn’t because he might just launch a wet one on you.

      I’ve been told by a sports enthusiast that he has been disciplined numerous times concerning his bad behavior. During his five-year lock out, without parole, he would do well to take advantage of anger management workshops. Though I’m not keen about sports, I do know that the lives of sportsmen/women operate on a timer–biological clock. Think about it, Detroy (don’t know how old he is at this time) has just short-changed himself by five years in this particular sport. My view is that great minds of the BFA have PERMANENTLY CANCELLED HIS RETURN TICKET. When his five years have expired he will be much older. In the meantime, I doubt very much that anyone else in the sporting world in Bermuda will invite him in, and I don’t blame them.

      My advice: Detroy, get help and save yourself! You need to look at the origin of that spitting behavior of yours.

  3. biggadon says:

    thats it…SMH….any footballer that spits at or on any football ref in a time when can just about find anyone to ref games should be BANNED FOR LIFE !

  4. Kim Smith says:

    Let’s just wait a bit and see if they mean what they say… or buckle and reduce the consequence for one reason or another.

  5. wondering says:

    and please don’t let the appeal drop it down to two……it is a befitting punishment. clubs need to support this by reinforcing good behaviour on and off the pitch by their players.

  6. Alcohol Anonymous says:

    Model citizen ?? Lol … Is he still banned in cricket too ? … And I agree a life banned but after this who will take chance on him with their team ?

  7. Nuffin but da Truth says:

    should have been banned for Life,he was lucky it was’nt some other Ref I know,he’d have cracked him upside his head real hard…I would have too.

  8. Okie Dokie says:

    Nasty disgusting lil m@f@

  9. Forest says:

    Should be banned for life. Any attack on a official running the game is a life sentence for the player.A role model, you got to be joking. This sets the standard that has been missing for so long. Well done BFA.

  10. afriking says:

    One thing bad about this is he can play Carona league which he should be banned from too!!!

  11. BDA says:

    There should be a fine.

  12. getyourlife says:

    stfu and go along with your life. why are you soooo concerned about him? all of you are perfect model citizens right? never done wrong? perfect people correct? oohh okaay? dont throw stones when you live in a glass house! if his actions DONT affect you or your life why are you commenting? Detroy is one of the coolest people i know and he only disrespects those that disrespect him so kma and getyourlife thankss

    • Daily Mail says:

      You are one of the problems with Bermuda. Detroy one of the coolest! Hahahaha…. Nice example to set for the kids. Spitting on someone is ok? Wake up dreamer.

    • Whistling Frog says:

      @ getyourlife: I’d have to agree with the others. There’s nothing cool about spitting on someone. I’m sure if someone spit on you, your not gonna let it rest at that. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Everything has its place, spit should stay in ones own mouth…

    • bozey says:

      Nobody is perfect idiot!! We have done wrong!! BUT SMART ENOUGH TO DO DUMB THINGS TO HIT THE MEDIA!!

  13. Squirt says:

    Getyourlife must be Detroy in disguise, the comments from every reply is evidence it seems!!!!! IDIOT

  14. Lol says:

    His not a bad person. He jus dont take no s***

  15. swing voter says:

    this ruling is another example why I don’t attend local club sporting events including cup match. I stopped attending after some fool attempted to throw a bottle onto the pitch and hit an innocent bystander instead. the fool was identified but club officials didn’t take action

  16. It's ok.. says:

    That’s disgusting! Who has brought up someone who spits on people? I have adult sons. Thank God they are respectful. Anger management mate!

  17. ... says:

    does this mean his banned from coaching the kids league too? cause honestly he needs to learn self control before he coaches any children. if he was coaching my child on st Georges team I would remove my child that is ver unprofessional and he doesnt know if he has the next big baller on his baby team… u dont see naki wells spitting on refs… ijs

  18. Bermuda Boy says:

    Detroy and others having the same mentality are the problem with Bermuda today.

  19. Really? says:

    A model citizen, cool person etc. REALLY?! Google his name and see what kind of person he is! Wow! It’s one thing to stand by a friend or family member but to defend and condone fooishness is complete ignorance! Well done BFA, stand strong!!!

  20. Iknowdetroy says:

    Whoever getyourlife is must be Detroy…cause Ive know him for over ten years and he has always been a trouble maker never a model citizen……if you really knew him you would know. I pray for his son’s sake he does change……he has issues for sure and he needs help…and defending him wont help him…talk to him and convince him to go get help.

  21. dreamcatcher says:

    I hope St. David’s CC follows suit and matches the ban the BFA handed down. As a probable non financial member he has dragged the Club’s reputation into question with his bottom of the barrel level conduct.

    I’m ashamed he was allowed on the field as a native St. David’s Islander. I don’t know why our club picked up some other club’s problem and allowed him field time on one of the biggest days of the football calendar.

  22. Tricks Are For Kids says:

    Everyone is entitled to THEIR opinion. It is okay to disagree but it is even better if you disagree with respect.

    Detroy there are some that know you better than others and there are some that don’t know you at all. You do have that side that is great to talk to and then there’s the side that you need to work on. You are still young and therefore have time to set things right. Don’t look at the 5 year ban as the end…instead take the time to reflect…all is not lost……..