JFF responds to KSAFA suspension

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) says it will not allow the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KASAFA) to continue its competitions unless referees are outfitted with Digicel branded jerseys.



A dispute over the branding of referees’ jerseys between the JFF and KASAFA, has resulted in the suspension of all KASAFA run competitions since yesterday.



KASAFA president Rudolph Speid says he had written to the JFF requesting a waiver to use alternative jerseys because a firm that is a direct competitor to Digicel is the sponsors of its competitions.



KASAFA has a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with another telecommunication provider, Claro.



However a release from the JFF says the local association had signed a three-year contract worth $6.5 million with Digicel in 2008, which cover training and development of referees including provision of uniforms.



The release says the sponsorship deal with Digicel was communicated to all affiliates of the JFF and they have no right to include referees in any sponsorship agreements.



Speid says his association suspended all its competitions with immediate effect after receiving a memorandum from the JFF advising that the referees should use only shirts branded with Digicel logos.



Speid further says KSAFA will have further dialogue with the JFF to find a solution to the problem.