TUCKER, St James — Montego Bay United are prepared to challenge a number of the charges which were brought against them by the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ) Operations Committee on Thursday at a meeting held at the Jamaica Football Federation’s offices in Kingston, citing “prejudice”.

As a result of the tempestuous run-up to the final against Portmore United on Sunday, May 1 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay United were slapped with nine charges and fined a total of $225,000.

In a letter to league director Franz Walker, however, the club is challenging four of the nine, the club’s chief operations officer and Director of Administration Sandra Christie, said.

“It was apparent that the Match Commissioners Report and another document (which was not presented or disclosed to MBUFC in said hearing) were those considered by the PFAJ Operations Committee and seemingly prejudiced; without any consideration for our presentations of facts on the matters which arose,” she said.

“As such, we respectfully ask that MBUFC be directed to the appeals process regarding items 6-9 (as per this mentioned listing and those refuted in hearing of May 26) and that all associated documents be presented to MBUFC on said matter.”

Christie and president Orville Powell represented the club at the hearing, and according to the letter, have accepted the first five charges against them.

Montego Bay United threatened to boycott the finals because of what club president Orville Powell said was disrespect shown to the three-time finalists who went on to win their second title in three years, beating Portmore United 2-1.

A week earlier, Arnett Gardens, who were beaten in the semi-finals by Montego Bay United, were fined $200,000 and had their home field, the Anthony Spalding Complex, sanctioned by the same committee for a series of breaches during the return-leg semi-finals.

The charges against Montego Bay United as laid out by the PFAJ Committee were:

1. For breach of Article 5.3 & Article 16 B par ii — Failure to attend official function

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for failure to attend RSPL Press Conference on 21st April 2016.

2. For breach of Article 5.3 & Article 16 B par ii – Failure to Attend Official Function

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for failure to attend media interview on 28th April 2016.

3. For breach of Article 5.3 & Article 16 B par ii — Failure to attend official function

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for failure to attend media interview on 29th April 2016.

4. For breach of Article 5.3 & Article 16 B par ii — Failure to attend official function

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for failure to attend RSPL Final Match Coordination Meeting on 29th April 2016.

5. For breach of Article 6.5 — Kick-off times for the matches

For reasons not acceptable by the PFAJ Operations Committee, Montego Bay United FC was fined Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) for late arrival at the final (1st May 2016).

6. For breach of Article 8.7.a — Case of lack of discipline and order inside or outside grounds

Montego Bay United FC was fined One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for disregarding instructions on entering the field of play.

7. For Breach of Article 23.1 & 23.2 — Unauthorised slogans

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for entering the pitch area in garment or equipment bearing unauthorised slogans.

8. For breach of Article 16 B par ii — Failure to comply with guideline and instructions issued by the PFAJ

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for failure to provide team start list on match day in set timeline (as per event countdown).

9. For breach of Article 16 B par ii — Failure to comply with guideline and instructions issued by the PFAJ

Montego Bay United FC was fined Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for failure to have the Team’s change room prepared on match day in set timeline (as per PFAJ Advisory).