“Even if some of the sanctions are very severe, I understand that FIFA needs to put an end to individual wrongdoing and bad practice if the evidence proves that individuals have engaged in reprehensible conduct,” Burrell said in a statement.
The JFF president was remorseful as he said his initial decision not to co-operate with the foreign investigators was an error on his part.
“Those of us who live the Caribbean reality will understand my reluctance, while people who are unfamiliar with our Caribbean history will take offence, which is what happened, and for which I now suffer the consequences.”
“A majority of the Caribbean football officials who had participated at the CFU meeting in Port of Spain had objected to the initial interviews being conducted outside of the Caribbean. This was consequent to the many statements emanating from the different sides and the lack of clarity on how the investigations were to be conducted.
“The outcry against that original procedure was such that the venue was eventually changed and hearings were set for the Caribbean, in Nassau, Bahamas. Looking back, I have tried to see the reasoning behind the original approach, as it was put forward to us by CONCACAF and FIFA; and despite the fact that I have now suffered the consequences for my original assessment, I maintain that it was the right thing to do to protest against the fact that CFU members were ordered to a territory outside of the Caribbean to be questioned and testify. I accept that I possibly decided to co-operate with the investigation too late, but that was my decision at the time and I stand by it while, accepting the sanction which resulted from my lack of cooperation in the initial phase of the investigation,” Burrell said.
As I have said b4 CFU alone cannot bear this cross of repairing FIFA’s image and the rest of the FIFA go free.
Caribbean history and how and where the investigation was held are irrelevant to those who want to know the following which any mic toting journalist can ask.
Did you participate in this scheme at any level?
What exactly was your involvement?
Were you given notice b4 the bribe meeting at the hotel that this was going down?
Did you or associate with anyone encouraging attendees to take a bribe?
In lieu of bribe were you promised enticing non-monetary rewards or positions of higher office pending a successful outcome?
What would you have done differently Before an investigation was called.
Those are some questions that can be answered from anywhere even out of space with or without a history major.
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One possible reason why things are not going according to plans is there never was a plan
Directors shun JFF meeting Published: Tuesday | November 1, 2011 0 Comments André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
Sunday's Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) board of directors' meeting had to be abandoned after the quorum requirements were not met, with officials reportedly staying away after it made the rounds that at least one confederation was planning to use the opportunity to examine issues related to banned president, Captain Horace Burrell, and general secretary, Horace Reid.
Burrell is currently serving a three-month ban from all football-related matters for his role in the cash-for-vote scandal involving former FIFA presidential hopeful Mohamed bin Hammam and one-time CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president, Austin 'Jack' Warner.
The incident surrounds a meeting in Trinidad and Tobago with bin Hammam, Warner and CFU officials during the build-up to the FIFA presidential elections earlier this year.
Reid was also warned by FIFA in the aftermath of that now infamous meeting.
It is understood that the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) - the island's most powerful confederation - had requested at an internal gathering last week that its representatives at the JFF board of directors' meeting demand the full details of the CFU meeting from Reid and Jamaica's other representative in Trinidad and Tobago, Bruce Gaynor.
The KSAFA representatives, it is understood, were also asked to request that a letter be sent to FIFA calling for the full details of Burrell's ban.
These are issues which will, however, remain unresolved, at least for now.
Failed mission
The fact-finding mission failed to get off the ground as besides three KSAFA reps, Rudolph Speid (president), Ricky Chin (first vice-president) and Jackie Cowan (treasurer), only stand-in JFF president Dale Spencer, Reid and two JFF staff members turned up for the meeting.
"We turned up for the board meeting on Sunday at 11 a.m. and there were only two other personnel at the meeting and we are at a loss, because in my experience it's the first I am seeing something like this," said Speid, KSAFA's president. "We waited for over an hour and nobody else turned up."
Some 33 members were expected to be present, with at least 15 persons needed to constitute a meeting.
Spencer, while expressing extreme disappointment that the meeting was not held, would not speak to the reasons behind same, pointing instead to other opportunities that may arise for the discussion.
The JFF's first vice-president said yesterday that besides the Burrell issue, the meeting was necessary to deliberate the 'fate' of Reid, an employee of the federation, as well as to send a message of unity to the nation.
"This is disappointing for more reasons than one. We had some very important issues to deal with as a board of directors," Spencer said. "The meeting was convened with adequate notice, it was an important meeting for the directors to carry out their responsibilities.
"Prior to the meeting, I had circulated an email stating that the nation, including our financial and other supporters, expect and deserve that the board of directors should meet and leave the meeting with a unified position in the interest of Jamaican football, so you can understand my disappointment," said Spencer, chairman of the South Central confederation.
He added: "Unlike the situation where the president is elected by the congress and his fate, so to speak, would be determined by the general membership, the general secretary, who was warned, is an employee of the federation and so I was looking forward to the directors coming forward and giving us some guidance on that issue. By contract and by statute, that position is the responsibility of the board of directors."
In reference to the reports of the expected KSAFA inquiry, Spencer said: "I never heard that, so I wouldn't comment on that, because it wasn't put forward to me. I came to the meeting expecting that the directors would come and carry out their responsibilities."
The next JFF board of directors' meeting will to be convened at the end of January, when the matters at hand are expected to be brought up.
However, the interim chief is not ruling out the possibility of an extraordinary meeting before then.
"If there is the need to convene a management committee meeting, I will do that," he pointed out.
Burrell...up to his usual antics, behind the scenes...threatening delegates, or buying them off...
As long as this directors meeting is not held before the 3 month ban is up, this entire situation will not be brought out into the open...as KSAFA would like.
After the ban is over...Burrell rules Jamaican football again.
At this point I just care about the JFF putting a winning team on the field of play.That is where my head is.
Just a thought. It is all about politics. Ric- What is your source Burrell is threatening the directors/delegates?
To me it is kind of obvious that Burrell is been punish for not ratting out the rest of CFU and not because he took money.How could he rat out CFU then turn around and ask for their vote to be CFU head and posible CONCACAF. Burrell stand up for CFU and Blatter did not like that so he suspend him so he will not be in any position of power in CFU. So what happen to counter, the vote was moved to the new year when his suspension is over which is not a coincidence. I guess Speid and KASAFA cannot see this so they wanted to use the board of directors to get clarification and garner support from the other confederation to position himself has been more competent. So what happen the other confeds say Burrell did not do anything, he sponsors us, he is implementing programs that will help football in the long run, things are fairly stable, so they decide to stay away, be loyal and not be apart of KASAFA grand plans.
The moral is at the end of the day everyone is looking out for themselves. Blatter- Burrell- Speid.
I think we should wait until after JA WC qualifying then things should be clearer for everyone.
No Brazil- Speid get his wish to supplant Burrell or have a legitimate shot at the job- Blatter will be happy because Burrell will be gone to focus on Captain's Bakery- Burrell get us to the WC he is an hero again and is the JFF president for life. let us see what will play out.
You really believe that the rest of the JFF Board of Directors are being 'loyal' to Burrell out of love for the man ?
The parish confederations, KSAFA being the largest and most powerful, have every right to have their questions answered and have transparency to this process...
Your views seem naive and short-sighted to me...get Jamaica to another WC and all is well.
Maybe you don't see that Jamaica's chances of getting to Brazil 2014 just took a huge knock if the JFF cannot function or move ahead with any football plans to do just that for the 3 months that Burrell is suspended for...
And he can make no moves, arrange no practice matches,or negotiate with overseas players (UK ballas) while he is suspended.
Do you see where Burrell has Jamaica's entire football held to ransome ?
Which is more important to you; Jamaica's football or Burrell's political football career ?
Ric-Read the first line I wrote and you will see what is important to me. You cannot seriously think Burrell suspension will derail our small chance of getting to Brazil. We might not get a game the next FIFA date but how many dates are we missing during the suspension and does the suspension prevent us from playing. Boss after November 11 and 15 international football will be shut down for 2011. Horace Reid and the technical team deals with players anyway. You getting riled up over nothing. I know you just want to see Burrell get nailed. One thing I can say though if we dont make it to Brazil things cannot stay the same.
Ric-Read the first line I wrote and you will see what is important to me. You cannot seriously think Burrell suspension will derail our small chance of getting to Brazil. We might not get a game the next FIFA date but how many dates are we missing during the suspension and does the suspension prevent us from playing. Boss after November 11 and 15 international football will be shut down for 2011. Horace Reid and the technical team deals with players anyway. You getting riled up over nothing. I know you just want to see Burrell get nailed. One thing I can say though if we dont make it to Brazil things cannot stay the same.
You're contradicting yourself here...read your own posts again very carefully.
Your support for Burrell is blinding you to the very facts that you are using to justify your support.
Burrell has already been 'nailed' as you put it...at least temporarily.
If he is not fundamental or crucial to Jamaica getting to Brazil 2014, as you yourself has stated, then let others get on with the business...my point is that any disruption in the current program and efforts to Jamaica's preparation for the WC qualifiers will have a detrimental effect on Jamaica's already very slim chances.
Maybe you don't actaully realise how poor Jamaica is on the field right now in comparison to the rest of CONCACAF's main contenders who are just 'ticking over' right now until they are ready to shift into high gear for the WC qualifiers...
Honduras cruised past Jamaica in La Ceiba without even having anywhere near their best team on the field and without breaking a sweat...
has that match not taught you anything about where Jamaica stands right now ?
Ric- Read my first line again I know where we stand compared to the rest of CONCACAF. You are so quick to call people names when they disagree with you. It might seems like I am supporting Burrell according to your interpretation. We cannot deny he brought some stabilty to our administration of football. I was tired of hearing commentators saying in the 90's we were disorganise, very physical but some what talented. We have move pass that and we need the right people to keep us at a high level.What I am saying is if Burrell cannot do it someone else will of to move our football forward. I know you have special interest in the old dinosaur Tony James but his time as passed. The transparency you are looking for will not help him to repeat his poor job. The first VP and Reid is running things for now. No need getting riled up our chance of getting to the WC is slim and it will not be because of Burrell's suspension but because of the poor performances of the actual players recently.
Ric- Read my first line again I know where we stand compared to the rest of CONCACAF. You are so quick to call people names when they disagree with you. It might seems like I am supporting Burrell according to your interpretation. We cannot deny he brought some stabilty to our administration of football. I was tired of hearing commentators saying in the 90's we were disorganise, very physical but some what talented. We have move pass that and we need the right people to keep us at a high level.What I am saying is if Burrell cannot do it someone else will of to move our football forward. I know you have special interest in the old dinosaur Tony James but his time as passed. The transparency you are looking for will not help him to repeat his poor job. The first VP and Reid is running things for now. No need getting riled up our chance of getting to the WC is slim and it will not be because of Burrell's suspension but because of the poor performances of the actual players recently.
We might be disagreeing on very minor points but I can't see where I've called you any names here...my comments are totally objective even though they reflect only my opinions.
What I think that you might be trying to have me believe is that you don't realise how important administration is to have the best players on the field, have things running smoothly and so on and so forth but I'm very well aware that you do...
So you are a Burrell loyalists...that is no secret, neither does it hide the fact that Burrell's current position does not aid Jamaica's chances in any way right now.
Where we actually disagree is that KSAFA or any other confederation or main football organization in Jamaica has every right to know all the facts regarding Burrell's ban by FIFA.
By your reckoning, Jamaican football is only and all about Burrell and without Burrell, there is no football in Jamaica...that might be a bit of an exaggeration on my part but come pretty close to the truth.
Me and you both have ties to Manchester football and I admit my ties to the James family but that has nothing to do with an objective analysis of Jamaica's position re the WC qualifiers...
And Tony James has nothing to do with running football in Jamaica directly.
