André Lowe, Commentary

The recent firestorm between local sports cable company SportsMax and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), along with its affiliate the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ), has left a dark shadow over local football's administration and opened serious debate over whether or not sponsors are being turned off from pumping real money into the sport.

Delays to the start of the island's premier knockout football competition, the Champions Cup, set the plot for an intriguing unfolding of accusations and counter-accusations.

For those who missed it, the JFF/PFAJ pointed fingers at SportsMax, stating that the company was not able to meet certain obligations in time, while SportsMax rebutted, painting a grim picture of contract breaches and, quite frankly, dishonesty on the part of the JFF/PFAJ.

SportsMax, which had the rights to market, seek sponsorship for and package the Champions Cup for television, stated that the decision to withdraw a two-year extension offer for the competition was taken after the PFAJ demanded more money than was agreed upon in a contract signed back in 2009 and had nothing to do with any problems meeting its obligations, as was stated in a JFF memo to its affiliates.

What, demanded more money?! That simply cannot be the case and sounds more like a 'stick-up' to me. Certainly, the experienced folks at the JFF/PFAJ - though exposed to the gunslinging, Wild West ways of football politics, must know that sort of thing is not viewed favourably.

corporate bucks

I am no lawyer, but as far as I know a contract is a legally binding document, and its terms and conditions must be respected by all related parties; it's simple really, and if SportsMax is right, then the JFF/PFAJ need to take a serious look at how they do business before they further ostracise themselves from corporate bucks.

The affair has left a bitter taste and does little to inspire confidence in the current football management structure, which, as disappointed as I am sure they are about this information making its way to the public realm, has said nothing to contradict or even pacify the situation. There has been a lack of decisive leadership in this case so far, belying the obvious abilities and experience of those in a position to make a difference.

It's shameful really, and it's full time that the public gets an explanation on the circumstances surrounding this fallout, you owe it to the people, after all, it is taxpayers' hard earned money that largely funds these sporting bodies; no more skirting around the issue.

JFF/PFAJ, did you, or did you not lie to your affiliates about the real issues behind the Champions Cup delays? Did the PFAJ really seek more money from a partner despite pre-agreed terms on a contract?

The Champions Cup has seen three sponsors in the last five years, a situation also experienced with the National Premier League, suggesting that local administrators, may perhaps for one reason or the other, have failed in recent years to keep sponsors happy beyond their initial deals.

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