Bailey, Butler to be invited for upcoming friendly

President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Michael Ricketts confirmed that Leon Bailey and his brother, Kyle Butler, will be invited for Jamaica's friendly international against Caribbean nation Antigua and Barbuda, which will be played at Sabina Park on Sunday, March 25, starting at 5:00 p.m.

Despite the ongoing saga between the JFF and Bailey's agent and adopted father, Craig Butler, the Bayer Leverkusen star striker will be sent an official request to join the squad, which is expected to be announced soon.

The match falls within the FIFA window for international games, and so all club professional will be available for the fixture.

"We were to play Paraguay on the 24th, but that is Champs. We can't compete with Champs, so we switched to play Antigua and Barbuda on the 25th, which is a Sunday," Ricketts told The Gleaner yesterday.

"Leon Bailey and his brother, Kyle Butler, will be in the squad. I don't know if the list has gone out, but they will be included. However, we won't bow down to them," the president said in relation to the difference between the organisation and the position Craig Butler, who has called for an overhaul of the country's football philosophy and has suggested that he have a role in its technical direction.

The 20-year-old Kyle Butler, who is an attacking midfielder, represents St Andrew FC in the Malta Premier League.

Ricketts said last month that there was nothing his federation could do if Bailey wants to represent another country other than the one of his birth, following unsubstantiated reports that he was being courted by other nations.

The Reggae Boyz have only lost three of their last 10 matches.