Column/Opinion

Related Links: Versión en Español

It’s been nearly nine months since the circus came to town, but it made its return in a big way on Saturday, April 23, at the Brownsville Sports Park when the RGV Ocelots debuted in the struggling Southern Premier Soccer League against the Houston-based Club América U-23 Academy.

Although the RGV squad routed the Academy 5-2 on the BSP turf, it was the off-the-field (and some on) antics that stole the show at the SPSL’s traveling circus when the referees assigned to officiate the inaugural match never arrived. This was not totally unexpected of the SPSL from an organizational standpoint.

In March, one team was expelled and another withdrew from the six-team SPSL. The league finished the regular season with barely four teams a couple of weeks ago and looked to recover with the Summer Cup, and a projected seven-team summer league.

Claims from the two teams that exited the SPSL about a lack of professionalism, organization and that the league was neither pro nor semi-pro became evident to Valley fans when the Ocelots scrambled to have someone, anyone, officiate their match (most likely so they wouldn’t have to give the fans their money back). Typically, here is where a professional, semi-professional, or even an amateur match for that matter, would’ve been suspended and rescheduled. It would’ve been the professional, ethical and responsible thing to do. Right?

Not in this case sports fans. Not on the SPSL’s or Ocelots owner Kru Kayan Sitsanthaparn’s watch.

Instead, the Ocelots somehow convinced Brownsville Porter assistant coach Julián Robles to referee part of the game after delaying the match for 30 minutes. No line judges (assistant refs) were used throughout the match. He was relieved by another volunteer in the second half. Although Robles, who has some officiating experience, is one of Porter head coach José Espitia’s right hand men that helped guide the Cowboys to the Class 5A State Tournament recently, he isn’t a sanctioned referee for an SPSL match. Hence, the game is not an official one. Which means it doesn't count. By counting the match in the standings, then the allegations about the league aren’t too farfetched as they would have us believe.

The Cowboys were in attendance at the game on Saturday at the invitation of the Ocelots, who honored them at halftime for their recent trip to the State Tournament. Unfortunately for Robles and Porter, they must not have read the fine print that was going to put them to work at the game in exchange for free admission and a PA announcement.

The SPSL issued a response on April 25 stating that Houston-based McDavid Enterprises has been the league’s referee assignor since last season and conceded the fact that officials have been as late as 30 minutes to games in the past. Since the league didn’t have any further communication with the assignor after a text message on Saturday afternoon, they have taken over the assignor’s duites, according to the press release.

However, no word was mentioned as to the validity of the game. As of April 27, the Ocelots’ victory with an unassigned referee officiating the match counted in the league standings. Although the Ocelots players won the game, they still lost. Valley fans and Valley soccer also lost when these two organizations made a mockery of the players and the game they claim to promote. The players expected a higher level of competition in a professionally organized soccer match, as did the fans, but instead got a ringside seat to a circus.

The Ocelots joined the fledgling SPSL last fall after its owner and ringmaster Sitsanthaparn lost the franchise rights to the USL Premier Development League RGV Bravos FC. Financial troubles, division-wide complaints and cheating were just some of the reasons for the termination, especially when the USL took away the team’s victory over West Texas United and the three points in the season finale.

After failing in his endeavor to hold onto the Bravos as its interim owner in a one-man circus in which he played the role of owner/president/athletic trainer/national anthem singer/DJ/ticket taker/usher/ballboy/waterboy and legal counsel, Sitsanthaparn created the Ocelots and joined the SPSL. Sort of fitting, in a way, in light of recent events.