Big bill! Over $100m already spent on World Cup qualifiers

JAMAICA needs its 12th man to boost FIFA World Cup qualifying hopes. And they also need money, plenty, plenty money.

Both, which go hand in hand, have football’s governors here chasing a breather to escape the stranglehold placed on them by the COVID-19 pandemic, as after a three of 14 fixtures, they have accumulated a (US$700,000) J$105-million bill.

This excludes an additional J$5 million, for its stadium bill, that moves the figure past the J$110-million mark.

“For these three round of games, we’ve spent in excess of US$700,000 (approx. J$105 million),” shared Dalton Wint, the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) general secretary, noting that charter flights (for both away games), accommodation, match fees, etc., contributed to the spending.

The breakdown is as follows:

n Match fees for two games lost – approx. US$40,000 (J$6m) each x2 = US$80,000 (J$12m) total

n Match fees for one drawn game – approx. US$60,000 (J$9m)

n Per diem – US$70,000 (J$10.5m)

n Airfares – two charter flights and round fare for players’ tickets – approx. US$250,000 (J$37.5m)

n Accommodation in Panama and Costa Rica – approx. US$120,000 (J$18m)

n Accommodation in Jamaica – approx. US$65,000 (J$9.75m)

n Additional staff US$30,000 –US$40,000 (J$4.5m-J$6m)

n Ground transportation and COVID testing (all round) – US$20,000 (J$3m)

Regarding fees connected to the National Stadium for last Sunday’s match, Wint said: “Rental of the stadium was over a million, sanitisation was around $500,000 and the COVID tests alone cost us over $2 million. We had to test everyone who came into the stadium, players, even the stadium workers.”

For its only World Cup Finals appearance, France 1998, Jamaica’s sum total for its qualification budget, as noted by then JFF President, the late Captain Horace Burrell, was $398 million.

At that time, the final round qualifiers included six nations and the 12th man was a powerful force at the National Stadium in Kingston, a near-impregnable fortress nicknamed ‘The Office’ for the dominant performances and results achieved there by the Reggae Boyz.

Then, they played their tune to a full house maximising gate receipts, and there were plenty of sponsors.

Wint said now they are hungry for that influence.

“I know that the players are motivated, but the extra motivation would be ascertained if we had that 12th man in the stadium,” admitted Wint. “That has been proven difficult and we understand why.”

Concacaf’s eight-nation final round elimination for Qatar 2022 kicked off on Thursday, September 2 and since then, Jamaica played one game at the National Stadium, without spectators, and two on the road at Mexico and Costa Rica.

DESPERATE SITUATION

The situation is one of desperation for the JFF, which is looking towards an outlet for hosting home games on the road.

“One of the reasons is that we need the support of our spectators in the stadium,” said Wint.

“We understand the circumstances and we understand that it’s almost impossible for this to happen at this time. However, another thing that we have to put into the mix is the fact that without the fans, there is no opportunity for us to earn and it is creating huge pressure financially on the JFF at this time, coupled with the fact that it is very, very, very expensive to put on events at the National Stadium at this time because of the protocols to which you have to adhere,” he explained.

Michael Ricketts, the JFF president, explained that for months now, they have been meeting with the sports, health and wellness and local government ministries to fine-tune protocols, even to get football restarted here without spectators, for the Jamaica Premier League. He agreed that costs are burdensome but maintained that health is a priority.

“We still need to look at the health and well-being of the nation, and especially the Ministry of Health, which has portfolio responsibility for health, welfare, well-being and fitness,” said Ricketts. “So we are very hopeful. Sometimes we feel very stressed, but we must understand that the health and well-being of the nation must get priority.

“It’s going to be a struggle, it’s going to be a challenge because the numbers are still rising. But we want to ensure that it’s best practices going forward,” said Ricketts.

In the meantime, Wint believes with no corporate assistance forthcoming, the Government should lend greater support.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

“One of the things that need to happen is the fact that we need to get financial support from corporate Jamaica, which it seems is difficult for that to happen at this time and we are having difficulty in getting the sort of support that we require from the Government,” he said.

Hence, they are looking overseas.

“One of the considerations we have is the economic impact on the JFF in having the (home) games overseas. We’re working on our feasibility (study), to see if it is more feasible, which is looking in that direction in hosting games overseas,” shared Wint.

Asked about where and if they had a partner to successfully carry the venture overseas, Wint kept those details close to his chest, but said “we are having these talks. It looks like it’s in the States, it would be one of the easier places to go”.

“Within another week or so, or two, we should be able to say definitively what we are doing. But there are a lot of things that we need. We need to have the discussion with FIFA and Concacaf to get approval for that to happen,” Wint explained. “It’s not that easy for it to just happen overnight.”

audleymboyd@gleanerjm.com

The Qatar 2020 bill (so far):

- Match fees for two games lost - approx. US$40,000 (J$6m) each x2 = US$80,000 (J$12m) total

- Match fees for one drawn game - approx. US$60,000 (J$9m)

- Per diem - US$70,000 (J$10.5m)

- Airfares - two charter flights and round fare for players’ tickets - approx. US$250,000 (J$37.5m)

- Accommodation in Panama and Costa Rica - approx. US$120,000 (J$18m)

- Accommodation in Jamaica - approx. US$65,000 (J$9.75m)

- Additional staff US$30,000-US$40,000 (J$4.5m-J$6m)

- Ground transportation and covid testing (all round) - US$20,000 (J$3m)