RICKETTS AT RISK
JFF boss facing legal issues after allegedly making derogatory remarks
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Michael Ricketts, may be required to pay damages and could face punishment from FIFA, after he was brought to court by a former challenger, over alleged derogatory comments made over three years ago.
On February 28, 2017 in an interview on Hitz 92 FM’s Sports Grill, Ricketts, while responding to submissions made by Lowe, who was challenging him for the presidency of the Clarendon Football Association (CFA) at the time, is alleged to have brought Lowe’s sexual orientation into question.
The matter was brought to court; however, Ricketts, refused to contest the case, resulting in a default judgment against him. This judgment was made on September 8, 2017.
“The defendant having filed no defence herein, IT IS HEREBY ADJUDGED THAT judgment is entered for the claimant for damages to be assessed by the court for:
i. Damages for libel including exemplary and aggravated damages;
ii. Interest pursuant to the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act;
iii. Such other relief as this Honourable Court deems fit,” the judgment read.
The hearing to assess damages was set for June this year, but has been rescheduled to June 2021.
NO COMMENT
Ricketts, when contacted yesterday, declined to comment on the matter or its potential impact on his JFF presidency, considering FIFA’s anti-discrimination policy.
“I don’t know (if case will affect presidency). I don’t have any idea, I really don’t know. I can’t comment. It is in the court,” said Ricketts. “I can’t say anything about that (possible FIFA sanctions or expulsion). It is in the court so I will have to wait until it goes to court and the court do what they are doing.”
“It (damages hearing) is set for the eight of June next year, so I can’t say anything until court time and I don’t want to say anything I must not say,” added Ricketts.
Meanwhile, Lowe claims that Ricketts set out to damage him professionally and personally because of his attempt to challenge for the CFA presidency in 2016.
“In response to my potential challenge, he (Ricketts) sought to damage me by slandering me and giving me a bad name about destroying clubs, and being a ‘b ****** n,” Lowe said.
“He deliberately and without basis concocted stories about ‘unacceptable sexuality’, with a view to having the clubs in Clarendon not support my bid to unseat him. He also sought to make the football issues personal,” added Lowe.
Article 4 of the FIFA Statutes speak clearly against discrimination in football: “Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”