KINGSTON, Jamaica — Under-fire Reggae Boyz Head Coach Winfried Schaefer has expressed surprise at being relieved of his duties by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) pending an investigation into his alleged involvement in an altercation with a member of the media.

“I am surprised by the letter from the JFF,” the German told OBSERVER ONLINE a short while ago. 

Schaefer, who declined to comment further on the matter, will not be on the home team’s bench for tonight’s CONCACAF Group B World Cup Qualifier against Haiti at the National Stadium. It is understood that Schaefer is in touch with his lawyer in Germany.

This morning the JFF issued a release saying it is investigating the head coach’s behaviour toward a video journalist at the Norman Manley International Airport on Saturday moments after the Boyz arrived from Panama where they lost 0-2 to the hosts on Friday.

“Following on a formal complaint and expression of concern from the PAJ (Press Association of Jamaica) and the RJR Group regarding the behaviour of national senior team Coach Winfried Schaefer to a videographer from TVJ at the airport on September 3, the Jamaica Football Federation has relieved Mr Schaefer of his coaching duties until an investigation by the JFF is complete,” the statement said.

It said that the letter outlining the position to Schaefer was dated September 5, 2016. The release added that Assistant Coach Miguel Coley will assume the mantle for tonight’s encounter.

Schaefer, who has a contract with the JFF up to 2018, has come under increased public pressure to resign after the national senior football team failed to advance to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.

Jamaica have four points, with one match remaining. Costa Rica (13 points) and Panama (10 points) are the two teams from the group to book places into the final stage. Haiti, also out of contention, have a solitary point.

Sanjay Myers