Mount Pleasant Football Academy have turned their full attention to winning the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) after they were cleared of major wrongdoing in the transfer saga involving the use of overseas players.

Sources within the Mount Pleasant camp, who requested anonymity, said there is increased motivation to win the league. The Jamaica Observer was told that multiple clubs were hoping that the 2022/23 JPL champions would have faced heavier sanctions and stripped of their status as league leaders.

Last week, it was revealed that defending champions Cavalier FC filed a 16-page complaint to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) competitions committee, alleging that league leaders Mount Pleasant had breached guidelines by fielding Haitian duo Angelo Exilus and Jeudy Johnson, who were both said to have been transferred outside the January 2025 window.

Exilus and Johnson, who played five games for the St Ann-based club last month, represented Haitian club Real Hope in the Concacaf Champions Cup in February.

There was speculation in some quarters that Mount Pleasant could face points deduction and even have players being banned.

However, the JFF competitions committee ruled that the two players were “duly transferred” to Mount Pleasant. In a statement the competitions committee said it was in possession of the players’ termination letters and international transfer certificates.

The competitions committee placed the blame on Real Hope.

“What is clear is that the breach was done by the players’ former club and not Mount Pleasant FA,” the statement read.

Exilus and Johnson are said to be eligible to feature for Mount Pleasant in the remainder of the JPL.

The competitions committee, however, did accept Cavalier’s claim that Mount Pleasant exceeded the number of foreign players allowed on the team sheet in an encounter with Racing United on April 10.

“We acknowledge that a breach has occurred in this instance, hence the Mount Pleasant FA will be fined accordingly,” the competitions committee stated.

Mount Pleasant were handed a $25,000 fine, but they avoided forfeiting the game, which they won 2-1, as they had only fielded five of the seven overseas players. According to the competitions committee, the league’s rules permit a maximum of six foreign players “may be on the field of play at any given time”.

The ruling means that the JPL table will remain the same as Mount Pleasant finish top with a league record 93 points, which gives them automatic qualification to the semi-finals.

Up to press time on Tuesday, the Observer’s efforts to get comments from the JFF competitions committee, Mount Pleasant, Cavalier and league promoters Professional Football Jamaica Limited were unsuccessful.

However, Mount Pleasant sources believe they have been vindicated as they are certain they followed proper procedures in relation to the transfer of the Haitian players.

Mount Pleasant await the winner of the two-legged quarter-final tie between Montego Bay United and Tivoli Gardens which kicks off on Thursday at Sabina Park.

Also on Thursday, Cavalier, who are looking to make the semi-finals, take on Portmore United with the winner set to play Arnett Gardens in the last four.

— Daniel Blake

Cavalier FC’s Kaile Auvray (centre) turns away from Mount Pleasant’s Jean Ferreira (left) and Alex Marshall during the Concacaf Caribbean Cup match at Sabina Park on August 20, 2024. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)