JFF awaits just reward - Federation still owed portion of administrative funds by FIFA
Published:Monday | April 20, 2020 | 12:06 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) General Secretary Dalton Wint says the association is still waiting to receive the final portion of the US$500,000 (roughly J$69 million) from FIFA for administrative matters.
Wint told The Gleaner that the JFF only received US$300,000 (over J$41 million) from the governing body for football at the start of the year because it was placed on restricted finance from FIFA last year.
“Last year, the JFF went on restricted finance from FIFA due to the fact that we were spending too much cash and we were mixing up our accounts,” Wint said.
“We were spending some money from some accounts that should not be spent because you can’t pay debt from FIFA money. They have released it partially based upon our compliance, and we have been receiving money that is owed us.”
WORKING HARD
Wint said that FIFA has assured the federation that it is working to ensure that the final portion will be received as soon as possible. He said that the JFF has also been working hard to ensure that its finances are in accordance with FIFA requirements.
Wint said the JFF is on track to receive another US$500,000 from FIFA once it is able to meet targets that have been set out by FIFA.
“You have to play some international games, and you have to have certain things in place,” he said. “It is a reward system because if you don’t do what they asked you to do, then you won’t get this $500,000.”
FIFA announced last month that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) board would be replaced by a Normalisation Committee in an effort to restore governance and financial stability to the organisation.
FIFA took the decision after an assessment carried out in conjunction with Concacaf, the continental regulators, found low overall financial management methods, combined with a debt that resulted in the local body facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity.
The TTFA reportedly had amassed debt of over US$7 million (around J$965 million) before president William Wallace took office late last year.