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JFF takes action
2008-06-21 Written by: André Lowe 
Captain Burrell
The Jamaica Football Federation is searching for answers following last week’s fracas at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.
The JFF hierarchy has requested that a report be presented to them within 10 days following the crowd trouble that marred Jamaica’s second-leg World Cup qualifier against Bahamas. The report is expected to be prepared by the head of operations for the game and member of the JFF security committee Harry Daley and third vice president and main coordinator Raymond Anderson.
Thousands of unruly patrons tore down the perimeter fencing that borders the newly constructed venue and overpowered police and security officers to gain access to the stands during the first half of the encounter. The melee resulted in at least one shot being fired in the air, reportedly by a policeman on location.
Unable to get tickets
The Sunday Herald understands that the spectators, some of who had travelled from as far as Portland and St Thomas for the game, got restless when they were unable to get tickets to the game outside the venue.
One patron said that there were no available tickets at the outlets in Ocho Rios on match day and those being sold by peddlers outside the venue were being sold for 200 per cent more than the advertised price.
Said one patron who journeyed from Port Antonio: “This is foolishness, the stadium is empty and we can’t get any ticket to go inside the place. We couldn’t get any in Ochi (Ocho Rios) and when we got here they want to sell the $500 tickets for $1,500 and $2,000. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Corrective measures
JFF general secretary Horace Reid refused to speak conclusively on the matter before the availability of the report but informed that the federation is already looking to make corrective measures.
Reid said, “I have not received a full and formal report so I would not want to speak on anything specific. We will be required to take the necessary corrective measures for the areas that may have been breached and that would be the first step.
“There is obviously some cause for concern and it is not something that we would want to gloss over but there is a process and we will have to acknowledge this,” he stated.
He went on to point out that the administration is awaiting word from the sport’s governing body FIFA but sought to alleviate fear that the country could face serious sanctions in the wake of the problems.
Wait and see
“We have to wait and see exactly what FIFA would require from us. In the meantime what we can do and will do is making sure that the areas that were breached we have those fixed as soon as possible. We are not expecting any such action from them (FIFA) but we know that we need to address the breach,” said Reid.
The game was the first for the Reggae Boyz in western Jamaica in five years and despite the problems, Reid did not rule out another game being played at the venue.
He stated, “we have to be very methodical in our assessment and we have to review the information as it is presented and therefore it is a little premature to speculate at this time, so we’ll see.”
2008-06-21 Written by: André Lowe Captain Burrell
The Jamaica Football Federation is searching for answers following last week’s fracas at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.
The JFF hierarchy has requested that a report be presented to them within 10 days following the crowd trouble that marred Jamaica’s second-leg World Cup qualifier against Bahamas. The report is expected to be prepared by the head of operations for the game and member of the JFF security committee Harry Daley and third vice president and main coordinator Raymond Anderson.
Thousands of unruly patrons tore down the perimeter fencing that borders the newly constructed venue and overpowered police and security officers to gain access to the stands during the first half of the encounter. The melee resulted in at least one shot being fired in the air, reportedly by a policeman on location.
Unable to get tickets
The Sunday Herald understands that the spectators, some of who had travelled from as far as Portland and St Thomas for the game, got restless when they were unable to get tickets to the game outside the venue.
One patron said that there were no available tickets at the outlets in Ocho Rios on match day and those being sold by peddlers outside the venue were being sold for 200 per cent more than the advertised price.
Said one patron who journeyed from Port Antonio: “This is foolishness, the stadium is empty and we can’t get any ticket to go inside the place. We couldn’t get any in Ochi (Ocho Rios) and when we got here they want to sell the $500 tickets for $1,500 and $2,000. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Corrective measures
JFF general secretary Horace Reid refused to speak conclusively on the matter before the availability of the report but informed that the federation is already looking to make corrective measures.
Reid said, “I have not received a full and formal report so I would not want to speak on anything specific. We will be required to take the necessary corrective measures for the areas that may have been breached and that would be the first step.
“There is obviously some cause for concern and it is not something that we would want to gloss over but there is a process and we will have to acknowledge this,” he stated.
He went on to point out that the administration is awaiting word from the sport’s governing body FIFA but sought to alleviate fear that the country could face serious sanctions in the wake of the problems.
Wait and see
“We have to wait and see exactly what FIFA would require from us. In the meantime what we can do and will do is making sure that the areas that were breached we have those fixed as soon as possible. We are not expecting any such action from them (FIFA) but we know that we need to address the breach,” said Reid.
The game was the first for the Reggae Boyz in western Jamaica in five years and despite the problems, Reid did not rule out another game being played at the venue.
He stated, “we have to be very methodical in our assessment and we have to review the information as it is presented and therefore it is a little premature to speculate at this time, so we’ll see.”