The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) has issued a stern condemnation following a disturbing incident during the Premier League of Belize Opening Season Finals. The federation expressed outrage after video evidence emerged showing a player deliberately kicking a stray dog that had entered the playing field during the championship match between Progresso FC and Verdes FC in Benque Viejo, Cayo District, on Saturday night.
The FFB characterized the player’s actions as ‘completely unacceptable and fundamentally incompatible with the core values and ethical principles of football.’ The incident, witnessed by both stadium spectators and television viewers, quickly ignited widespread public anger across social media platforms following the circulation of video footage online.
In an official statement, the federation confirmed the matter has been escalated to its Disciplinary Committee for formal review. The committee will conduct a thorough investigation to determine appropriate sanctions against the identified player, Latrell Middleton, who was captured on video committing the act.
Public reaction has been vehement, with many social media commentators condemning both the player’s actions and what they perceive as organizational failures. Critics highlighted the presence of an unsupervised animal at a major sporting event as indicative of serious security and protocol deficiencies. Several commentators argued that event organizers share responsibility for ensuring player and spectator safety, including preventing animals from entering the competition area.
One particularly vocal social media user connected the incident to broader societal issues, stating: ‘This unfortunate event reflects the pervasive problem of animal abuse within our nation. Such behavior must be confronted at all levels of our society.’