Football fissure – More disagreements on how the country’s top league should be administered
WITH THE objective of improving professionalism in football across the confederation, CONCACAF has recommended that the organisational structure around Jamaica’s top-flight competition, the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), be rearranged.
CONCACAF made the recommendation during a meeting with local football stakeholders, where a possible conflict of interest in the present structure was highlighted, given that the board of the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ), which currently runs the league, is made up of four members from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and three from the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA).
The issue has led to a back-andforth between the PLCA and the PFAJ concerning the future of the league’s administration.
Chairman of the PLCA Edward Seaga believes that a good way of rearranging the operations of the RSPL is to retire the functions of the PFAJ to the PLCA.
The former prime minister and leading figure at RSPL outfit Tivoli Gardens FC says his reason for taking this stance is because the PFAJ relies solely on the PLCA for funding. NO FUNDING
“PFAJ has no funding. We have to fund the entire organisation, and it is a drain on our accounts when we could be doing more for our clubs. And at the same time, what they do can easily be absorbed into the PLCA operations. So they really do not serve a purpose,” Seaga said. “The JFF has never put up a dollar in spite of their ownership (of the PFAJ), and the entire running expenses have fallen to the PLCA, which we cannot continue any longer.”
However, president of the PFAJ Don Anderson refutes Seaga’s claim, stating that the PLCA is only responsible for marketing the league, a function that was granted to the clubs association by the PFAJ.
“They (PLCA) do not fund the PFAJ. They were granted permission to market the league. PFAJ carries out all the other functions of the league,” Anderson said.
Anderson, who was present at the meeting with representatives from CONCACAF, the PLCA, and the JFF added: “They (CONCACAF) would love to see the league streamlined under one body because it so happens that the PFAJ comprises three members of the PLCA and four members from the JFF, which is where the smudge is.”
He said that a decision has not been made yet as to how the operations of the league would be carried out, and the PFAJ was working closely with CONCACAF to forge a path.
“CONCACAF is not going to dictate to us to say that you have to change one. They are asking us to see how we can streamline the operations of the league, and it is an ongoing discussion,” Anderson said. “Coming out of the meeting, CONCACAF said that they are going to develop a road map for Jamaica to become very professional in its operations.”