Bailey transfer: Three local clubs still seeking compensation
City scrape into FA Cup last eight, Spurs out
Manchester City stayed on course to retain the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over second-tier Sheffield Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, while Tottenham were knocked out on penalties by Norwich yesterday.
City could have turned the win into a rout if not for Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, who made some excellent reaction saves but also a costly error to let Sergio Aguero score the opening goal in the 53rd minute.
The Argentine forward’s low shot bounced off Wildsmith’s palm and looped up before dipping in under the crossbar. It was Wildsmith’s first game of the season in any competition, but he stopped other good shots from the likes of Aguero and Bernardo Silva, while Nicolas Otamendi hit the crossbar with a header.
It was City’s fifth straight win, with hree years after Leon Bailey made his blockbuster €20 million move to German club Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian club Genk, Meadforest FC remains one of three local clubs still seeking solidarity compensation for their role in Leon Bailey’s development.
Meadforest’s president, Dalgalish Henry, says it is in the hands of the Kingston And St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) to submit the necessary documents to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who will submit the documents to FIFA on their behalf.
But Henry believes it has taken too long and complained that KSAFA is dragging its feet and can do more to speed up the process.
“We have been getting the runaround. KSAFA should have submitted things on the clubs’ behalf. It is listed on the official (FIFA) website that Meadforest, Rockfort and Central Kingston are clubs that he (Bailey) played for and should be compensated.
“But whenever we call KSAFA, (general the last four coming in four different competitions, including the League Cup final victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. City were drawn away at Newcastle for the quarter-finals.
TENACIOUS NORWICH TEAM
Wednesday had just 20 per cent possession and didn’t record a single shot on target. Veteran forward Steven Fletcher could have sent the game to extra time but couldn’t quite stretch far enough to knock in Alex Hunt’s cross in the 81st minute.
Tottenham were eliminated 3-2 on penalties by a tenacious Norwich team after the game finished 1-1 following extra time. Norwich were 1-0 down in both the game and the shootout but bounced back to win after Tottenham’s Erik Lamela hit the bar and goalkeeper
TTim Krul saved efforts from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes.
Tottenham opened the scoring thanks to a 13th-minute goal from defender Jan Vertonghen, who soared above a pack of players to head in Giovani Lo Celso’s free kick at the far post.
It was a return to cup form for Vertonghen, who appeared visibly upset when substituted against Southampton in the previous round. Norwich, which last reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1992, sent the game to extra time when Josip Drmic bundled in a rebound.
Norwich will host either Derby or Manchester United in the quarter-finals.
Leicester were held at bay by Birmingham for most of the game until Ricardo Pereira’s headed goal in the 82nd booked a quarter-final against Chelsea in a 1-0 win.
In the other quarter-final match, Sheffield United will host Arsenal. secretary, Dwayne) Dillon does not turn up at the meetings and we have called several meetings,” he said. He added that they have complained to the president but nothing has been done.
VOICE HIS CONCERNS
Henry has written to FIFA to voice his concerns but the sport’s governing body directed him to the JFF. He has contacted the JFF and asked for their intervention to speed up the process.
However, the JFF informed him they were awaiting one final document from the KSAFA before they could make the submissions.
“They told me they are waiting on a document from KSAFA. But it’s the length of time. It has taken too long,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Dillon admitted they are still in the process of completing the final document to be submitted to the federation.
“We are in dialogue with the JFF to get compensation for the clubs. The JFF will seek compensation (from FIFA) for the clubs involved. We have one outstanding matter and after we will submit that (document).
“It (process) has been taking a while and there are various factors but the federation has been responding. We have an outstanding document to give to them and that will finalise that documentation and then we will see how long it will take,” he said.
He added that he feels very positive about the outcome. “We just have to go through the process,” he said.