Negril FC's Barrion Authurs (centre) ... at the centre of transfer row. - photo by Adrian Frater

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

BARRION ARTHURS, who led Negril FC's attack in the first round of the 2006-07 Captain's Bakery Western Super League, has been barred from further participation in the competition until he faces the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for allegedly switching clubs without the requisite release.

Reno FC, who facilitated Arthurs' move to Negril FC by providing him with a transfer they were not authorised to sign, has also been summoned by the JFF to explain its part in the scenario which forced a postponement of the competition's mid-season final, which was slated for last Saturday.

"It would appear that Reno did not provide the Western Confederation with the correct information in regards to the transfer of the player (Arthurs)," said JFF general secretary Burchell Gibson following a meeting with officials of the confederation in Montego Bay on Sunday.

"In addition, from our investigations, we have reasons to believe that Arthurs knowingly acted in a manner aimed at bringing the game into disrepute," said Gibson. "We will be looking into his conduct with a view of possibly taking action against him."

Cleared of wrongdoing

Negril, which qualified for the competition's mid-season final against Granville by virtue of being the runaway leaders in Zone A, were cleared of any wrongdoing by the JFF, which concluded that the club was led into believing that the player was a bona fide Reno player when the transfer in question was negotiated.

"We see no reason to penalise Negril FC for using the player because, based on the documentation furnished by Reno, they were led to believe the transfer was authentic," said Gibson. "As far as we are concerned, Negril did nothing wrong."

According to Western Confederation chairman Everton Tomlinson, when the matter came to its attention, it tried to make a determination as to the validity of the claim but had a difficulty determining which club owned Arthurs, who had transferred from Reno to Wadadah in the 2005 season.

"It came to our attention that he (Arthurs) was representing Negril without being released by Wadadah," said Tomlinson. "During our investigation, the matter of who owns the player came into question and, as a consequence, the matter was referred to the JFF."

The decision by the JFF has now paved the way for the playing of the mid-season final which league director Mark Calvin said he is hoping to have played by mid-week to facilitate the start of the second phase of the competition this weekend.