The heavily-indebted Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has fallen deeper into liability hell after incurring losses associated with the staging of Sunday night’s friendly international between the Reggae Boyz and Canada at the National Stadium.

To escape a loss account, at least $12 million was required in revenue which would have offered the comfort of a break-even status.

Preliminary figures yesterday showed that only $7.2 million of the minimum target was collected from gate receipts, a shortfall of $4.8 million. The sum earned was generated from the sale of approximately 5,300 tickets.

A further 2,000 tickets were apportioned to the complimentary list.

The sizeable complimentary tickets are shared among parish associations officials, referees, technical staff, standing committee members, current and past players, past JFF presidents, media, other sporting bodies, the PLCA, secretariat staff, sponsors, government officials and the political directorate.

President of the JFF Captain Horace Burrell said he intends to commission a policy review of the complimentary tickets regime.

For Sunday’s match-up, like most others, the JFF had to pick up the tab for the critical operational spend. That included venue rental, security, printing of tickets, insurance of venue, local licensing fees, hotel accommodation for visiting team, meals, transportation, airfare for visiting officials and overseas-based Boyz and match incentives for home team.

Luckily, the Federation was spared the expenses of airfare and match fees for the Canadian team.

Captain Burrell outlined that it is a financial challenge to stage home games and emphasised the importance of the Jamaican support.

“Some people can’t begin to understand the costs involved in having these matches… it’s a tall order and we can only be successful if our dear friends come out and give their support some more,” he said yesterday.

“But nevertheless, I would sincerely want to thank the Jamaicans who came out and supported Sunday night’s game, and for those would did not come, I am giving them a special invitation to come out for the next one as we begin to build for Brazil 2014,” Captain Burrell added.

The veteran football boss said he fully understood the factors that may have kept the fans away from the match-up which the Boyz won 1-0 and which marked the launch of the team’s 2014 World Cup campaign.

“Some people may have been a little unsure of the performance the Boyz would give. Also, some people are more inclined to come out when the team is in competition or when we have a high-profile opponent. There is also the question of economics, so I know what people are going through,” he noted.

But Captain Burrell would not let it slip to urge the nation that for the Boyz to repeat their France 1998 success, firm partnerships of all stakeholders must be established, and stressed that the fan is the most important of the mix.

“I want all of Jamaica to know that for our campaign to Brazil to be a success we need everyone’s contribution, and the fans have a crucial role because without them we will fail,” argued Captain Burrell.

Though it is costly to put on home games, the CONCACAF Executive Committee member vowed he would do his best to bring as many of them to the fans.

“We will be working tirelessly to get at least one game per month for the team, and it is our vision to host as many of them as possible here, even though we may incur some losses. But as I have said before, the support at the gates can change all of that,” stated Captain Burrell. He said while he was happy with the win over Jamaica’s CONCACAF rivals on Sunday, in the same breath he lashed the efforts of some players.

“The performances of some of the players did not help the cause and I am sure that the coaching staff will take the appropriate action. We must remember that there are other players eager for opportunity,” warned Captain Burrell.

Jamaica, ranked 81 by FIFA, will play their next friendly international against Argentina in that country on February 10.