Tweet
JFF, KSAFA remain at loggerheads over branding rights dispute
By Howard Walker, Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, June 08, 2009
THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and affiliate, the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), remain at loggerheads after Friday's meeting to resolve a sponsorship dispute.
BURRELL... the no-nonsense head of the JFF back in the island
With the absence of president Captain Horace Burrell, JFF's first vice-president Dale Spencer led his charges into battle with KSAFA boss Rudolph Speid and company, in an effort to reach an "amicable agreement" over the non-use of Digicel-sponsored referees uniforms.
Digicel has a contract with the JFF, which covers all referees, but KSAFA has a deal with communications rivals Claro as sponsor of the parish football which also covers referees.
All KSAFA/Claro competitions were suspended by KSAFA after the JFF intervened, on the basis that Digicel was not happy with the level of exposure received and persistent breaches of parts of the contract, specific to referees not wearing the uniforms provided by them in the KSAFA-run competitions.
"The JFF received news in November 2008, via an announcement, that KSAFA had secured telecommunications company Claro as its sponsor for most of its competitions. In doing so, KSAFA did not seek, nor was it granted permission by, the JFF to include the properties of referees in its contract with Claro," said a JFF press statement.
JFF and KSAFA representatives met on Friday, and according to KSAFA first vice-president Stephen Bell, a subsequent release by the JFF was in contraditions to what was discussed and agreed on.
"Where did this come from? We leave a meeting with some directives and the release speaks to another directive that cannot help us," said Bell.
That new directive from the JFF instructed KSAFA to resume all competitions with immediate effect, in accordance with the directives of the board of the JFF.
Three main points were established. Firstly, KSAFA would immediately resume its competitions in accordance with the directives of the Board of Directors. The JFF recently instructed that "as of June 1, 2009, only shirts branded with official JFF sponsor Digicel will be worn".
Secondly, a final resolution of the matter must take place through discussions within the football family.
Thirdly, KSAFA will request an emergency meeting with the Board of Directors to complete final discussions in accordance with the statutes of the JFF.
The Observer learnt from an impeccable source that there was a meeting in February stating that KSAFA could use the Digicel, or the exception would be to use the Pepsi or Wray & Nephew, logo. KSAFA chose not to use the Digicel logo, which was ratified at the Annual General Meeting.
"The referees had never worn any uniform that had on Claro on it," said the source.
When the Observer contacted JFF's first vice-president Dale Spencer, he said he would not comment until an emergency board meeting, and he did not say when this session would be convened.
"Yes, we had a general understanding but I will comment after the emergency board meeting," he told the Observer Saturday night.
With the no-nonsense Burrell back in the island, after attending the 59th FIFA Congress in the Bahamas, fireworks are expected.
Bell said at the end of the day, KSAFA would like to protect the branding rights of their sponsor and at the same time not upset the branding rights of the JFF and their sponsor.
"We're a family. It's very hard to get sponsorship, and I respect that they're fighting to protect the branding rights of their sponsors and I expect that they fully understand that I'm protecting the branding rights of my sponsor. There are areas in which we can both work to make sure that both sponsors are truly recognised," said Bell.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...TS_DISPUTE.asp
By Howard Walker, Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, June 08, 2009
THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and affiliate, the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), remain at loggerheads after Friday's meeting to resolve a sponsorship dispute.
BURRELL... the no-nonsense head of the JFF back in the island
With the absence of president Captain Horace Burrell, JFF's first vice-president Dale Spencer led his charges into battle with KSAFA boss Rudolph Speid and company, in an effort to reach an "amicable agreement" over the non-use of Digicel-sponsored referees uniforms.
Digicel has a contract with the JFF, which covers all referees, but KSAFA has a deal with communications rivals Claro as sponsor of the parish football which also covers referees.
All KSAFA/Claro competitions were suspended by KSAFA after the JFF intervened, on the basis that Digicel was not happy with the level of exposure received and persistent breaches of parts of the contract, specific to referees not wearing the uniforms provided by them in the KSAFA-run competitions.
"The JFF received news in November 2008, via an announcement, that KSAFA had secured telecommunications company Claro as its sponsor for most of its competitions. In doing so, KSAFA did not seek, nor was it granted permission by, the JFF to include the properties of referees in its contract with Claro," said a JFF press statement.
JFF and KSAFA representatives met on Friday, and according to KSAFA first vice-president Stephen Bell, a subsequent release by the JFF was in contraditions to what was discussed and agreed on.
"Where did this come from? We leave a meeting with some directives and the release speaks to another directive that cannot help us," said Bell.
That new directive from the JFF instructed KSAFA to resume all competitions with immediate effect, in accordance with the directives of the board of the JFF.
Three main points were established. Firstly, KSAFA would immediately resume its competitions in accordance with the directives of the Board of Directors. The JFF recently instructed that "as of June 1, 2009, only shirts branded with official JFF sponsor Digicel will be worn".
Secondly, a final resolution of the matter must take place through discussions within the football family.
Thirdly, KSAFA will request an emergency meeting with the Board of Directors to complete final discussions in accordance with the statutes of the JFF.
The Observer learnt from an impeccable source that there was a meeting in February stating that KSAFA could use the Digicel, or the exception would be to use the Pepsi or Wray & Nephew, logo. KSAFA chose not to use the Digicel logo, which was ratified at the Annual General Meeting.
"The referees had never worn any uniform that had on Claro on it," said the source.
When the Observer contacted JFF's first vice-president Dale Spencer, he said he would not comment until an emergency board meeting, and he did not say when this session would be convened.
"Yes, we had a general understanding but I will comment after the emergency board meeting," he told the Observer Saturday night.
With the no-nonsense Burrell back in the island, after attending the 59th FIFA Congress in the Bahamas, fireworks are expected.
Bell said at the end of the day, KSAFA would like to protect the branding rights of their sponsor and at the same time not upset the branding rights of the JFF and their sponsor.
"We're a family. It's very hard to get sponsorship, and I respect that they're fighting to protect the branding rights of their sponsors and I expect that they fully understand that I'm protecting the branding rights of my sponsor. There are areas in which we can both work to make sure that both sponsors are truly recognised," said Bell.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...TS_DISPUTE.asp
Comment