JFF disrespecting us – FA bosses - Parish associations hit out over proposal for voting numbers

Several parish federation presidents are up in arms over a proposal by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) that speaks to adjustments in the number of voting delegates, arguing that the document does not reflect agreed terms.

President of the St Thomas Football Association, Wayne Thomson, who is also a member of the subcommittee that finalised the document, has advised, however, that the process is not yet complete, noting that there is still room for consultations.

Nevertheless, his colleagues from the St Ann Football Association and the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), Danny Beckford and Wayne Shaw, respectively, are no less aggrieved, describing the situation as disrespectful.

“This is a big disrespect for those who are looking out for football,” said Beckford.

Beckford argued that when the members met with FIFA Senior Governance Manager Sarah Solemale last March to amend the constitution, they all agreed to move the number of votes from 13 to 45 votes. He shared that the original agreement was for the lion’s share of two votes to go to each of the 13 parish associations, while the 12 professional clubs and other stakeholders such as the referees’ association, players’ association, women’s football association, ISSA and Intercol, would get one vote each.

He added that the number of votes was subsequently adjusted to 71, with three votes earmarked for each parishe, two for each professional club, with affiliates given one each. This, Beckford said, was finalised in a meeting.

“The document that was supposed to be sent to FIFA was 45 (votes). They said they changed it to 71 (votes), and we agreed on 71,” Beckford told The Gleaner. “Only to see the media saying that it is two for the parishes and two for the clubs. How can a parish association and a club have the same two votes? Don’t you see there is something wrong?”

The JFF has reportedly suggested 60 votes, with clubs and parish associations getting two votes each and affiliates receiving one.

KSAFA president, Shaw, believes that the move is a slap in the face of the parish associations, whose presidents all act as JFF board members.

“We haven’t received the document, and we have requested it how long. We have been requesting it verbally since last year. We sent a letter three weeks ago and another one on Sunday, and we haven’t even received a reply,” Shaw said.

COMPLETE DISRESPECT

“It is a disrespect that the board members have not seen the document that was sent to FIFA. Complete disrespect. Why is it that the board members cannot see it and they should approve the document that is going off,” added Shaw.

However, Thompson, said he does not see much cause for concern as the document still has to be ratified by Congress.

“It has to come back to Congress for approval. The (JFF) president (Michael Ricketts) said there will be consultations and internal meetings, so the process hasn’t ended. The process ends when Congress approves it,” Thompson said before underlining the relevance of the change.

“The most important thing for me is that we are improving the governance arrangement. Thirteen members deciding how we go forward in football was not in keeping with best practice,” Thompson shared. “Now you have other stakeholders out there who are contributing to the sport and who now have a voice and that is the most important thing for me.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com