Let them in! - JFF boss demands entry for national coaches

President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Michael Ricketts is calling on organisers of football competition organisers to comply with their policy and allow national coaches with proper identification to enter their games free of cost.

The JFF boss was addressing the incident where interim national senior team coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore was prevented entry to the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup game on November 6 at Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James.

"When a national coach goes to any football game, the person must be accorded the privilege of entry. All national coaches should present a JFF identification. Once an ID is presented by the person as national coach whether age group or senior coach, entry must be allowed," Ricketts said during the launch of the KSAFA/Magnum Super and Major League competitions yesterday at J Wray and Nephew's head office in New Kingston.

"We don't have a problem if the coach also gets an accreditation from the organisers, but once the JFF ID is presented it should be accepted for entry," he outlined.

"The coach could be coming from St James to Kingston for a meeting then decide to go to a football game, the coach might not be able to get accreditation in time. The coach should be allowed entry, especially in these time when we are putting emphasis on local talent," he added.

"We would say to any organiser of competition that it is the policy of the JFF that national coaches should be allowed entry to watch games. We are not saying that any JFF staff should be allowed, only the national coach," Ricketts added.

Meanwhile, Ricketts also disclosed that after the incident during the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup semi-final, where the referee was allegedly verbally abused by Jamaica College officials, that ISSA was instructed by the JFF to conduct a full investigation and submit a report.

"We are convinced that the referee was correct in his decision in the game between JC and KC in the Super Cup semi-final. We realised that their was an impasse between the referee and JC officials, We wrote to ISSA instructing them to have a full investigation and submit a report to the JFF," Ricketts said.

"ISSA will have a disciplinary hearing with JC tomorrow (today), and after the meeting we expect a report by weekend. We are hoping that ISSA would deal with the matter in the right way. We don't want to override ISSA's decision," he shared.