KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has refuted claims of corruption and victimisation levelled against the organisation by national player Leon Bailey.

Bailey, in an interview on the Let’s Be Honest podcast with comedian Jaii Frais, alleged that he has been getting a “fight” from the top brass of the JFF since he was as young as eight years old due to his ties to Phoenix Academy boss Craig Butler, who is also Bailey’s agent.

“From me a bout eight or nine me a get fight from the Jamaica Federation, from people weh a di top man inna di Federation and dem deh a people weh up until this day, today weh inna the federation, can’t look inna mi eyes,” Bailey said, indicating he believes the ‘fight’ was as a result of his ties with Butler.

He continued: “Dem a fight we from we a likkle yute. Dem even try block me from going to Europe. Di man dem link Embassy and dem thing deh fi nuh make me get visa. Di last time me go a Europe, a Cuba mi haffi fly to and get mi visa enuh,” Bailey shared.

However, in a release on Tuesday, the organisation labelled Bailey’s comments as unfortunate and false.

The JFF said while they would prefer to handle disagreements between themselves and players internally, the interview, which has been widely circulated on social media, has left them no choice but to respond.

“The JFF has tried not to comment on this as we were hoping that this would be handled internally, but based on the comments received from the public and stakeholders, we have been forced to comment publicly. We want to say that it is quite unfortunate that these comments were made, and in such a public manner, as we had hoped that we have arrived at a place where any disagreements are handled internally,” the JFF said.

“It is also unfortunate that Leon has apparently felt this way about the JFF, especially while playing for the Jamaica National team and not expressing it, and knowing his commitment to the programme and country.”

The organisation further expressed disappointment at allegations of corruption, stating that they consider Bailey “an important member of the National Team”.

The organisation labelled the accusations levelled at them by Bailey as false.

“The JFF has always seen Leon as an important member of the National team, and what he has said is baseless and is consistent with recent similar comments made, which we have called for evidence to be shared, either privately or publicly, so that we can act on it. To date, no such evidence has been shared,” the organisation said.

“We also find it impractical that a child between eight and 12 years old would understand what the actions and motives of the JFF or any organisation would be, with any clear understanding as first-hand information.”

The JFF said that by alleging that it has the power to “block an Embassy from issuing a visa”, Bailey’s statements “implies that the Embassy is complicit with the JFF in acting in a ‘corrupt’ manner.”

The organisation has since sought to assure the public that they do not possess the ability to influence a visa decision and would “never seek to intervene in such a process.”

In the meantime, the JFF has asked for evidence supporting Bailey’s accusations to be presented even as it refers the matter to management for review.