HAVING been relieved of a two-year ban and $300,000 fine by a court order instructing the St Catherine Football Association (SCAFA) to rescind its ruling on January 17, 2025, Royale Lakes FC are now focused on leaders Dela Vega, the only team they have lost to, and whom they trail by three points after six games in the St Catherine Major League.

Though celebrating the court’s ruling, handed down on March 17, Royale Lakes President Michael Panchan said the ordeal has drained the Lakes Pen team of more than $2 million in resources, which it hopes to recover through legal costs to be decided in time to assist their push to qualify for the Jamaica Football Federation’s Tier Two play-offs.

“How the whole affair was conducted, us being banned on the eve of the league’s kick-off after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to register players, then having to take the matter to court, definitely affected our already meagre resources,” Panchan said.

“Now that the court has ruled in our favour, we want to win the league in order to take up McKay Security’s offer of $1 million, which would assist us greatly should we advance to the regional play-offs among the south-east, western, central and northern regions.”

McKay Security Limited’s Chief executive Officer Jason McKay is the former president of New Raiders FC, who have also won court battles against SCAFA.

McKay confirmed that he would extend his $1-million contribution to the winning team of the St Catherine Major League, but not through SCAFA, unlike official sponsorship deals signed with the Kingston and St Andrew and St Thomas football associations.

“The court’s decision regarding Royale Lakes demonstrates exactly why that process must be open to everyone, including football clubs seeking justice. This ban could never have been reversed if the court was not available to Royale Lakes,” McKay said.

“It must never be forgotten that it took the Supreme Court to allow me to run for president of SCAFA after being banned by the incumbent. That being said, SCAFA is still circulating a new constitution that is trying to prevent clubs or individuals from seeking remedy in the courts.

“If this constitution is adopted by the St Catherine clubs, they are, in effect, creating an environment in which its president, Elaine Waller Brown, could become president for life. This could also create an environment for tyrannical rule by any future administration.

“Any document that forces a person or an organisation to bar the court from intervening is in direct conflict with the nation’s constitution, which is simply an injustice,” McKay said.

Panchan remains wary of what he believes could be reprisal from the leadership of SCAFA, having twice successfully taken the association to court — first for breaches of its own constitution, forcing a postponement of its July 2024 election. That act was deemed contrary to FIFA statutes, leading to the imposition of the two-year ban and $300,000 fine.

“After securing an injunction and winning the case, there is this feeling that the leadership is waiting and watching to use anything against us, all because we spoke up for our rights, with which the court has agreed, not once but now three times,” Panchan said.