MIAMI (CMC) – CONCACAF has cancelled its Under-15 Boys’ Championship scheduled for Cayman Islands and Jamaica in August.

The regional body made the announcement in a release that did not include a reason for the cancellation.

The statement said the Under-15 development tournament has been postponed until further notice but made no mention of the bribery scandal which has engulfed the game worldwide.

“By decision of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, CONCACAF regrets to advise of the postponement until further notice of the CONCACAF Under-15 Boys’ Championship 2015,” the statement read.

The news is seen as not just a blow to youth football in the region but also to the Cayman economy, as the tournament was expected to provide a late summer boost to hotel and service sector.

Over thirty regional squads as well as squads from Brazil, England and the Oceania Football Confederation’s Vanuatu were among teams down to compete in the regional competition.

“CONCACAF is committed to restoring a full slate of complementary youth development tournaments in the shortest possible time,” the release said.

“This includes our objective to re-schedule the Under-15 Boys’ Championship, at the soonest opportunity”.

The Under-15 Boys’ Championship is part of CONCACAF’s grassroots programme, which has been championed by Jeffrey Webb, the former FIFA Vice President and until recently president of both Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) and CONCACAF.

Webb is among several FIFA officials imprisoned in Switzerland fighting their extradition to the United States, accused of being involved in a $150 million bribery and racketeering scheme.