JFF to act tough with players who decline national call-ups

Young footballers who fail to alert the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) when declining national call-ups will, in future, be sanctioned by the governing body.

In a joint release yesterday, the JFF and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) said they met recently in an effort to strengthen the technical infrastructure of football and the coordination between the two entities.

The release said that players, unless having a suitable reason, are expected to respond favourably to national call-ups.

"Players called for national duty are expected to respond affirmatively to the call-up. Any player who will not be responding affirmatively must put this in writing to the Jamaica Football Federation, addressed to the general secretary and copied to the president, ISSA. This letter should be on his or her school letterhead, signed by his or her parent or legal guardian and co-signed by the principal of the school," the release said.

It was further decided that any player who does not follow this guideline and fails to respond affirmatively to a national call-up cannot represent his or her school during the period of the invitation. If any player participates in any game without getting the requisite approval, the school represented would forfeit any points gained and maximum points awarded to the opposing team. If any school were to habitually repeat the violation they will face further sanctions by the JFF or ISSA, which are not be limited to expulsion from the competition, which the violation occurred.

special exam arrangements

ISSA has also agreed to the JFF's request that the current national Under-17 team, which is preparing for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup that gets under way in Mexico on June 18, be facilitated as it relates to the coordinating and rescheduling of internal examinations.

Last year, two players from a western high school turned out for their institutions in the daCosta Cup competition after snubbing national call-ups.

ISSA was represented at the meeting by its president, Dr Walton Small, competitions director George Forbes, chairman of basketball Keith Wellington, and chairman of Manning Cup Aston Messam.

The JFF was represented by general secretary Horace Reid, technical committee chairman Howard McIntosh, technical committee deputy chairman Raymond Grant, and director of operations Janice Rose-Brown.