JFF top brass shuns Burrell 'issue'

Dale Spencer, first vice-president and interim head of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), says issues relating to FIFA's recent suspension of the federation's boss, Captain Horace Burrell, from all football-related activities were not discussed at their quarterly management committee meeting last Sunday.

In fact, Spencer says matters concerning penalties handed down to Burrell by FIFA are 'not an issue' for the JFF management to decide, but its entire delegation.

There have been widespread calls for Burrell to step down as JFF president in lieu of a recent six-month ban imposed by FIFA, following its probe into a bribery scandal that has rocked regional football.

FIFA has not stated its reason for suspending Burrell, who is among a number of high-profile Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executives who have either received suspensions, warnings, or have stepped down.

Among them are Austin 'Jack' Warner, the former FIFA vice-president, and CONCACAF and CFU president who stepped down; and Reid, who received a warning.

Suspended sentence

Burrell will likely serve only three months of the ban, with the other three months deferred to a two-year suspended sentence.

According to Spencer, the meeting primarily dealt with matters relating to the board of directors' meeting agenda and activities leading up to the federation's next committee meeting in January, as well as the JFF's financial affairs.

"Nothing was said about the Burrell issue apart from what was said in my opening remarks, where I briefly outlined the circumstances that caused me to chair the meeting and where members were asked to conduct ourselves in a manner that will allow persons to continue to support the game," said Spencer.

"Some members of the committee, prior to the meeting, might have thought that the issue of Burrell's suspension would have been dealt with in one way or another, particularly members that were not close to and accustomed to the management committee process.

"However, in the end, I thought my opening remarks provided a context for the meeting and nothing else emerged about the issue (suspension)," Spencer declared.

The meeting, held a week before the federation's next board meeting, saw members of the federation's six-member executive and the country's four confederation chairpersons taking part.

CFU elections

They include JFF second and third vice-presidents Bruce Gaynor and Raymond Anderson, respectively, General Secretary Horace Reid, head of women's football Lorraine Scringer, western confederation chairman Linnel McLean, Kingston and St Andrew Football Association President Rudolph Speid and acting eastern confederation Chairman Danny Beckford.

Treasurer Garry Sinclair was absent.

The JFF is scheduled to hold a board of directors meeting on Sunday, which is expected to provide information as to how Jamaica will vote at next month's Caribbean Football Union (CFU) elections.

"I do not anticipate that the board meeting will be much different than the management committee meeting," Spencer said.

"The issue of whether or not Burrell should go or stay, as some are suggesting, is not an issue for us. In fact, it is not for the management committee, or the board of directors to decide.

"It is for the general membership of the association, who voted us into office unopposed in 2009 for another four-year term."

Burrell, who, in addition to his ban will be put on probation for two years, was suspended regarding matters relating to a CFU cash-for-vote scandal heading into June's FIFA presidential election, which was won by incumbent president, Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter.