The clash wasn't fair - Ricky Trooper says Sumfest face-off was biased

Sound clashes are never void of drama and controversy, and Thursday night's clash at Reggae Sumfest was no different. At least one selector has come out to say he was robbed of a fair shot at the 2018 World Clash title due to bias.

Ricky Trooper, one of the contestants in this year's competition, told THE STAR that at least one contestant that made it to last night's final two was undeserving of that spot based on the rules stipulated by the clash organisers.

"We got the rules for the clash, and dem say no indecent language inna di song dem and we mustn't talk any curse words and dem thing deh. Everybody know me a one of the most notorious people in a sound clash when it come on to breaking the rules and dem thing deh. Last night me play the clash clean like a whistle like me a di biggest Christian in deh," he said.

"Violation gwaan because Matterhorn inna di clash, and him play songs wah have indecent language inna it. Dem never push him out or stop him deh so and say we haffi protect the brand and maintain the rules. He shouldn't have been in the final two none at all."

APOLOGY WANTED

Trooper said that he has no qualms with the winners as they put up a good fight and obeyed the rules, but wants the sponsors of the clash to issue a public apology for not sticking to the rules of the competition.

"Me nuh have no problem with Mighty Crown, dem play fair and square to reach the finals. But if you are given guidelines to follow and me follow dem and another man violate, how is it that man reach the finals?," he questioned. "Why we have rules and unuh a make noise bout corporate sponsors and keeping it clean, and all a dat if unuh nah hold it at the end of the day? Dat not fair and unuh need to apologise."

When contacted, Garfield 'Chin' Bourne of Irish and Chin, one of the organisers of the clash, said he was not interested in feeding into Trooper's claims. He said Thursday's clash was a success and that he'd rather speak on how well executed the event was. He said that he was pleased with the organisers' decision, which saw Matterhorn and Mighty Crown contesting the finals and that Irish and Chin's high standard in sound clashes was maintained.

Matterhorn was more expressive in his response to Trooper as he denied using indecent language in any part of the clash. "Everybody know me nuh follow rules, and dem say we must clean up the songs and the dubs and mi dub dem did clean," the selector said.