Boyz apologise, fined for training ground bust-up

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

All three Reggae Boyz involved in Thursday night's training ground bust-up, Ricardo Fuller and the Stewart brothers - Damion and Demar - have played down the incident as a minor one ahead of tonight's crucial World Cup qualifier against Mexico.

As a result of the incident, the players have been fined two-third of their match fees by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

"It's a part of the game, part of the sport at times and we are all aware of the magnitude and importance of tomorrow's game," Fuller told the media at a press conference called by the players at the Alhambra Inn yesterday.

"It's just that everyone is out there trying to show what they have, what they can do for their country. There were a couple of tough tackles, things got a little out of control but that's the game.

"At the same time, we are embarrassed to have let our emotions get the better of us and would like to apologise to the fans, the media and our valuable sponsors," he said.

It is reported that Fuller reacted angrily to a series of tough challenges from defender Demar Stewart. The two are said to have exchanged heated words, which led to a physical exchange, at which point, Stewart's older brother, Damion, got involved.

"Everyone knows the importance of the game. Things got out of hand and we kind of feel like we let everyone down," the elder Stewart said. "This is not the kind of example we want to be setting for the kids, it just that we let our emotions boil over. The issue was settled though, everything is fine and we are now focused on the task."

The players are, at the same time, hoping to channel some of that energy and aggresion into mining a positive result from tonight's fixture. Currently at the bottom of the four-team group, Jamaica will need to secure victories in all three of their remaining fixtures in order to enhance their slim chances of progressing to the next round.