The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has aborted pans to sell its New Kingston headquarters, situated at 20 St Lucia Crescent in New Kingston, following receipt of a letter from world governing body FIFA warning of harsh penalties, including expulsion, should the proposed sale go ahead.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters situated at 20 St Lucia Crescent in New Kingston.

In a strongly-worded letter dated Friday, February 11, under the authority of FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi, and addressed to JFF boss Crenston Boxhill, FIFA promised to act "swiftly and harshly", should the JFF headquarters be sold, and to take the matter up with all necessary bodies to "take the most severe measures against the JFF, including expulsion".

Boxhill and his finance committee, though confident the plan could work, are now forced to seek other means of correcting the JFF's financial woes.

"The plan is still a workable plan, it is a credible plan and what it means now is that we will have to find that cash injection elsewhere, since FIFA says that it (the building) can't be sold," Boxhill said yesterday.

"The plan wasn't to sell... because we didn't like the building or because we didn't like the fact that the building was bought by other administrators... selling... to a friendly buyer and to lease it back was just to give the plan the kick-start that it needed," he explained.

The sale of the building, valued at $48 million, was part of a proposed 'new business plan' articulated by the JFF's finance committee at a meeting of the board of directors last Saturday.

The 'new business plan' was aimed at generating cash to alleviate the JFFs financial troubles, as well as re-establishing a solid foundation.

When Boxhill assumed leadership of the JFF 15 months ago, he inherited a near $30-million debt, but his administration has struggled to reduce the arrears, especially since the failure of the Reggae Boyz to qualify for the final six of the CONCACAF World Cup eliminations.

With Jamaica's unexpected exit from the World Cup race - the main source of income for the JFF - millions of dollars in potential earnings and sponsorship went through the window.

Linsi, in his letter to Boxhill, explained that FIFA approved the use of its Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) - totalling US$500,000 - for the years 1999 and 2000 for the purchase of the JFF headquarters, and should the headquarters be sold, FIFA would consider this action to be a "misuse of FIFA funds".

Boxhill was advised to "find alternative measures" to his financial problems, as the building, bought with funds from football "must indeed stay in football".

Yesterday, Boxhill, who confirmed that he had received the letter late Friday, expressed surprise that the Sunday Observer had obtained a copy and pondered whether individuals with ulterior motives were at play.

"Is it a coincidence that the day before the congress the media receive a copy of the letter, less than 24 hours after it was received by the federation, and I might add that I am certain the media did not get it from FIFA," Boxhill charged.

Still, the JFF boss has suggested that the letter could force his administration to "seek clarifications and answers" regarding a number of issues, which he refused to elaborate on.

"I am certain that the letter will be brought up either at the meeting tomorrow (today), or before the board meeting on Thursday... it will be discussed because the letter itself has raised some questions that we probably would want to seek clarifications and answers ... but after discussing the letter with the management committee and board members we will decide where to go from there," said Boxhill.

Meanwhile, Boxhill denied knowledge of his finance committee resigning en bloc on Friday. He also categorically denied that treasurer Carlton Barclay has tendered his resignation.

"No, I cannot confirm that the finance committee has resigned en bloc,"he said. "I don't think that is true, but... I know that the chairman Chris Berry is disappointed that the plan has been thwarted, but he has not handed in his resignation... there is no resignation yet..."

When contacted by the Sunday Observer yesterday, Berry said: "I'm not aware of the entire committee resigning."
However, when he was asked about his own resignation, he said: "I prefer not to comment at this time..."

And Ian Neita, another member of the committee would only say: "I'm not going to comment on it." However, Barclay flatly dismissed the speculation. "I'm a part of the committee and the committee never met last night (Friday night), so it's not true. That's a lie.

"I have not tendered my resignation, but I would say that in the event that there is a no-confidence motion, then there is no need for that." Barclay's reference was to news that a no-confidence vote against Boxhill would be taken at today's annual general meeting of the JFF in Portland.

Berry apart, the finance committee comprises Ian Neita, vice-president of Cable and Wireless; Mark Hart, Hart Group of Companies; Earl Jarrett, president, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS); Ann Shirley, business consultant, and Allan Lewis, financial consultant, JMMB.

Below is the full text of FIFA's letter to Boxhill.
burnetti@jamaicaobserver.com

Rumours of the possible sale of the JFF Headquarters

Dear President, We have received information here at FIFA that the Finance Committee of the Jamaica Football Federation Ltd has recently approved the sale of the JFF headquarters as a result of the financial crisis in which the JFF seems to be engaged.

Were this to be true, and taking into account actions which may be taken at your Federation's General Meeting this weekend, we wish to reiterate the message given by the FIFA president during the Congress in Qatar, in which he pledged that all member associations of FIFA shall have their own House of Football by the end of 2006, with the House of Football comprising a federation headquarters and technical centre.

The purchase and renovation of the JFF headquarters was in line with the 'House of Football' logic, and as such, FIFA approved the use of your Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) for the year 1999 and 2000 ($500,000 total) for this purpose.

If it is confirmed that your federation in fact sells this building as part of the response to its current financial situation, please be advised that FIFA will consider this action to be a misuse of FIFA funds, and FIFA will have no choice but to act swiftly and harshly, and will take this matter up with all necessary bodies to take most severe measures against the JFF, including expulsion.

Please be aware that the JFF has to find alternative measures to this problem, and that the building built with funds from football must indeed stay in football.

If this rumour is in fact, unfounded, please excuse this letter and we wish the best for future fruitful co-operation.

Yours Faithfully,
FIFA
Urs Linsi
General Secretary
cc: CONCACAF

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