Jamaica Football

Ricketts breaks silence about developments in JFF election campaign

By Sports Desk December 19, 2023
JFF president Michael Ricketts (left) and vice-president Raymond Anderson. JFF president Michael Ricketts (left) and vice-president Raymond Anderson. file
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts has broken his silence about recent developments and allegations laid against his administration by vice-president and challenger Raymond Anderson and his Real Solid Action (RSA) team.
 
With the January 14 elections now less than a month away, Ricketts, who has been at the helm since 2017, expressed concern about the mudslinging involved in the elections campaign, chief among them, the allegations of fraud against his administration where the handling of stakeholders in Pillar three is concerned, and more recently, an uproar during the JFF Congress in Montego Bay.
 
"I have up until now refrained from offering any public comments regarding the election, as we are guided by a constitution, and I have always emphasised the need for both sides to maintain respect for each other, as we all need to live together after the election. There have been several comments made in the public, which are disturbing, to say the least," Ricketts said in a release on Tuesday.
 
The comments to which Ricketts refer involves the situation in which Anderson and some delegates were Anderson, along with 11 delegates, who were travelling in a bus, were asked to provide their names before entering the schoolyard. They were held outside the college gates for approximately 15 minutes.

Anderson characterised the situation as employing intimidatory tactics, but Ricketts rubbished the allegations.

"At a recent extraordinary congress, the matter escalated with some delgates arriving at the gate and refusing to provide their names to the security, which was done by everyone else, a standard practice within the FIFA organisations. As president, I not only waited on their team for almost an hour after the meeting was scheduled to start, but allowed them to enter even with their refusal to provide their names," the president explained.
 
"Also, at a recent board meeting, a member from each side was involved in a regular verbal exchange. This was surprisingly reported to the police by the other side as a threat.
The latest episode was an attempt to publicly embarrass my candidate, with a public effort to arrest without even a warning. If it is the incident that I know of, it does not warrant this type of action," he added.
 
Finally, in expressing his disappointment, Ricketts is hopeful that good sense will prevail for the remainder of the respective campaigns.
 
"I am extremely disappointed that some elements have allowed the election process to play out in this manner, which is aimed at embarrassing persons. Once again, I ask all involved to let good sense prevail in the interest of football," the release ended.

Anderson’s RSA slate includes Keith Wellington, Jacqueline Cummings-Martin, Donald Beckford and Orville Powell, as vice-presidents, while Carole Beckford and Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron would serve as ordinary directors.

Meanwhile, Ricketts’s slate has Gregory Daley, Elaine Walker-Brown, Raymond Grant and Baron Watson as vice-presidents, with Rudolph Speid and Bruce Gaynor as ordinary directors.

Tags
« Andre Blake's goalkeeper clinic delivered as expected Reggae Boy Beckford excited at prospects on return to Hartford Athletic for upcoming USL season »

Related items

  • Emotional Thiago Silva confirms Chelsea departure but vows to return 'in another role' Emotional Thiago Silva confirms Chelsea departure but vows to return 'in another role'

    Thiago Silva will leave Chelsea at the end of the campaign, but hopes to return down the line in another role.

    Silva, who joined Chelsea as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, has made 151 appearances for the club and helped them win the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup.

    The 39-year-old, however, will not be staying at Stamford Bridge for a fifth campaign.

    In an emotional interview with the club's media channels, the Brazilian said: "Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for one year and it ended up being four years.

    "Not just for me but for my family, too. My sons play for Chelsea so it's a source of great pride to be a member of the Chelsea family.

    "I hope my sons can continue with their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be a part of.

    "I think everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all but, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end.

    "It's an indescribable love. I can only say thank you."

    However, Silva is set on returning to the club once his playing days are over.

    He added: "That doesn't mean that this is a definitive end, I have to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.

    "Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic, so there weren't any fans in the stadium, but through social media it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back, and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here.

    "So, it is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances, but when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue."

    Silva has worked under a variety of managers during his time at Chelsea, including Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard, who brought him to the club.

    "The way in which I came here, with the support of the club, I got to be a leader of the club having arrived as the new guy," Silva continued.

    "It's always difficult to integrate, but bit by bit, I became part of the group and Lampard played a big part in that, so I am grateful to him for that.

    "Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

    "Goodbyes are for those that leave and don't come back. I intend on coming back one day."

    Silva will be hoping to bid farewell to Chelsea on a high note by propelling them to European qualification.

  • Ederson injury 'doesn't look good', says Guardiola Ederson injury 'doesn't look good', says Guardiola

    Pep Guardiola conceded Ederson's injury "doesn't look good" as Manchester City were forced to wait on the severity of the issue.

    Ederson had to be taken off at half-time during City's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, a victory that took them back to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

    The Brazil international needed treatment on an apparent shoulder injury after a collision with Forest defender Willy Boly.

    Ederson was seen with his arm in a sling after full-time at the City Ground.

    And Guardiola said: "It doesn't look good. We will see [on Monday] with the doctor." 

    Stefan Ortega again stepped up in Ederson's absence, with City's number two having performed well when called upon this campaign.

    Ortega has made seven Premier League appearances this season, making 16 saves from 22 shots on target faced, giving him a save percentage of 72.7.

    Ederson, meanwhile, has a save percentage of 67.1, keeping out 53 of the 79 attempts on target he has faced.

    Ortega has a slightly better goals prevented figure of 1.6 compared to Ederson's 1.0.

  • Recruitment crucial if Slot gets Liverpool job, warns Brands Recruitment crucial if Slot gets Liverpool job, warns Brands

    Arne Slot must only settle for the best in the transfer market if he succeeds Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.

    That is the view of PSV president Marcel Brands, who has warned Slot against taking several Eredivisie players with him in comments which might be interpreted as a dig at Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.

    Liverpool are reportedly close to reaching an agreement with Feyenoord to appoint Slot, who led the Rotterdam giants to just their second league title this century in 2022-23.

    Should Slot get the job, he will be taking over at what could be a time of great upheaval at Anfield. 

    Star forward Mohamed Salah could follow Klopp through the exit door as he enters the final 12 months of his contract, with renewed interest from the Saudi Pro League likely. 

    The Egyptian was involved in a public spat with Klopp during Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Ham and has only scored three Premier League goals since going to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

    Asked how Slot should approach taking over during a time of transition, Brands told Goedemorgen Eredivisie: "Don't focus blindly on signing five Dutch players.

    "He has to look very carefully at what he needs with his style of football, and only settle for top players."

    Brands' comments come as Slot's fellow Dutchman Ten Hag continues to attract fierce criticism amid an underwhelming second campaign at Old Trafford, with Eredivisie recruits Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez having limited impacts this term.

    Brands has warned Slot the pressure awaiting him at Anfield will match that Ten Hag has faced at United, saying: "Slot will be working at one of the biggest clubs in England. 

    "You have to realise that. Liverpool have supporters from all over the world, and the pressure is always there. 

    "Just like Manchester United, they really are the biggest clubs in England, but it is a fantastic challenge."

back to top
© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.