NOT SO CAPTAIN BURRELL
Last week Captain Horace Burrell’s ban that was imposed by FIFA was lifted. The six-month ban, three months of which were suspended, plus two years’ probation, was punishment for what football world’s governing body deemed to be his role in the cash for votes scandal that hit the FIFA presidential campaign last year May.
Captain Burrell returned to announce upcoming match schedules and a new deal with sportswear company Kappa, but as far as the scandal was concerned he was mum. According to the JFF President the matter is closed. I disagree.
When Captain Burrell took the job as president of the Jamaica Football Federation, he not only took on the job to represent all the football associations across the island, he also took on the responsibility of being Jamaica’s representative for football. This is a man who will want us to come out in support of the national football team when they’re playing at ‘The Office’. That is one of the ways in which the JFF raises money to carry out its business. In a manner, Jamaicans – sponsors and spectators – are shareholders of the national programme; without them there is no JFF.
So when Captain Burrell says the matter is closed, it is a slap in the face of Jamaican sponsors and public. If you campaign for a job then there are certain responsibilities that you should be aware of and one of those is accountability. Jamaicans need to know the details behind why Captain Burrell was suspended, why he remains on two years’ probation, and why Horace Reid, the General Secretary, was warned. Jamaicans need to know if anyone from Jamaica got money from Mohammed Bin Hammam during those meetings in Trinidad last year May, because we have the right to know if Captain Burrell and the members of his executive are acting in the best interest of Jamaica’s football or in their own best interests.
Coming off a three-month ban and declining to divulge relevant details but wanting unconditional support for the national programme is nothing short of disrespectful, brazen disrespect. There are those who will see nothing wrong as seems to be the case with Caribbean Football Union delegates, who Captain Burrell will be lobbying for help in his bid to become president. However, who those of us who will invest tens of thousands of Jamaican dollars and large portions of human emotion, for that support to come, the Captain needs to come clean.
Let the public determine whether he deserves forgiveness and a second chance. Jamaicans need; no deserve to know whether or not Captain Burrell and the members of his executive can be trusted. They don’t deserve to have acceptance rammed down their throats..
http://gleanerblogs.com/sports/?p=1063
Last week Captain Horace Burrell’s ban that was imposed by FIFA was lifted. The six-month ban, three months of which were suspended, plus two years’ probation, was punishment for what football world’s governing body deemed to be his role in the cash for votes scandal that hit the FIFA presidential campaign last year May.
Captain Burrell returned to announce upcoming match schedules and a new deal with sportswear company Kappa, but as far as the scandal was concerned he was mum. According to the JFF President the matter is closed. I disagree.
When Captain Burrell took the job as president of the Jamaica Football Federation, he not only took on the job to represent all the football associations across the island, he also took on the responsibility of being Jamaica’s representative for football. This is a man who will want us to come out in support of the national football team when they’re playing at ‘The Office’. That is one of the ways in which the JFF raises money to carry out its business. In a manner, Jamaicans – sponsors and spectators – are shareholders of the national programme; without them there is no JFF.
So when Captain Burrell says the matter is closed, it is a slap in the face of Jamaican sponsors and public. If you campaign for a job then there are certain responsibilities that you should be aware of and one of those is accountability. Jamaicans need to know the details behind why Captain Burrell was suspended, why he remains on two years’ probation, and why Horace Reid, the General Secretary, was warned. Jamaicans need to know if anyone from Jamaica got money from Mohammed Bin Hammam during those meetings in Trinidad last year May, because we have the right to know if Captain Burrell and the members of his executive are acting in the best interest of Jamaica’s football or in their own best interests.
Coming off a three-month ban and declining to divulge relevant details but wanting unconditional support for the national programme is nothing short of disrespectful, brazen disrespect. There are those who will see nothing wrong as seems to be the case with Caribbean Football Union delegates, who Captain Burrell will be lobbying for help in his bid to become president. However, who those of us who will invest tens of thousands of Jamaican dollars and large portions of human emotion, for that support to come, the Captain needs to come clean.
Let the public determine whether he deserves forgiveness and a second chance. Jamaicans need; no deserve to know whether or not Captain Burrell and the members of his executive can be trusted. They don’t deserve to have acceptance rammed down their throats..
http://gleanerblogs.com/sports/?p=1063
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