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Let Ricketts go - JFF boss will approach FIFA if MLS club fail to release national keeper
Donovan Ricketts
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Major League Soccer (MLS) club LA Galaxy could be on a collision course following the club's reluctance to release national goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts ahead of the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago friendly.
The Reggae Boy shot stopper has enjoyed a fruitful spell since moving to the MLS and joining the LA Galaxy in 2008. However, despite a real purple patch of form, which has seen the keeper earn rave reviews in the American league, he has not appeared for the national team since July of last year at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
excuses, excuses
According to the federation, invitations for the keeper to link up with the squad have consistently been turned down by the MLS club for a variety of reasons. The keeper has missed the last six friendly internationals, a situation that has drawn the ire of local football's governing body.
"The LA Galaxy have been acting selfishly over the last two years, we are happy that Donovan has been doing well, but not releasing a player consistently to represent his country is unacceptable," Captain Horace Burrell head of the JFF told Star [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Sports[/COLOR][/COLOR].
"We have been extremely accommodating, we understand that under certain circumstances the player will be unavailable. We have repeatedly requested his presence and Bruce Arena (coach) and the LA Galaxy have consistently come up with a different excuse. This is no longer acceptable and we have advised them that we will be approaching FIFA as it relates to enforcing the regulations."
FIFA rules
Burrell
According to FIFA regulations, "A club holding the registration of a player called up to play in the national team must release him to the national association on the fixed/set dates (FIFA dates) for international matches in each calendar year."
The Jamaica vs Trinidad game, which is set for August 11, will fall on an official FIFA friendly international match date.
The club versus country controversy has long been a hotly debated issue in international football, with several clubs and national associations already having clashed over the issue. However, in the instance that a player fit for duty is not released for a national team, the club can be barred from using the player for two matches. "We understand their interests, but we also have our own in preparing a national team. We have been cooperating for two years but we will no longer stand for it," Burrell said. [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Jamaica's[/COLOR][/COLOR] next friendly international is expected to be against Costa Rica on September 5, a match for which Ricketts is again expected to be called upon.
Donovan Ricketts
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Major League Soccer (MLS) club LA Galaxy could be on a collision course following the club's reluctance to release national goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts ahead of the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago friendly.
The Reggae Boy shot stopper has enjoyed a fruitful spell since moving to the MLS and joining the LA Galaxy in 2008. However, despite a real purple patch of form, which has seen the keeper earn rave reviews in the American league, he has not appeared for the national team since July of last year at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
excuses, excuses
According to the federation, invitations for the keeper to link up with the squad have consistently been turned down by the MLS club for a variety of reasons. The keeper has missed the last six friendly internationals, a situation that has drawn the ire of local football's governing body.
"The LA Galaxy have been acting selfishly over the last two years, we are happy that Donovan has been doing well, but not releasing a player consistently to represent his country is unacceptable," Captain Horace Burrell head of the JFF told Star [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Sports[/COLOR][/COLOR].
"We have been extremely accommodating, we understand that under certain circumstances the player will be unavailable. We have repeatedly requested his presence and Bruce Arena (coach) and the LA Galaxy have consistently come up with a different excuse. This is no longer acceptable and we have advised them that we will be approaching FIFA as it relates to enforcing the regulations."
FIFA rules
Burrell
According to FIFA regulations, "A club holding the registration of a player called up to play in the national team must release him to the national association on the fixed/set dates (FIFA dates) for international matches in each calendar year."
The Jamaica vs Trinidad game, which is set for August 11, will fall on an official FIFA friendly international match date.
The club versus country controversy has long been a hotly debated issue in international football, with several clubs and national associations already having clashed over the issue. However, in the instance that a player fit for duty is not released for a national team, the club can be barred from using the player for two matches. "We understand their interests, but we also have our own in preparing a national team. We have been cooperating for two years but we will no longer stand for it," Burrell said. [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Jamaica's[/COLOR][/COLOR] next friendly international is expected to be against Costa Rica on September 5, a match for which Ricketts is again expected to be called upon.
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