Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Mark Linehan (left), CEO of Digicel Jamaica Limited, hands over a cheque to Captain Horace Burrell (centre), president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Edward Seaga (right), chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), during the official launch of the Digicel Premier League, at the JFF headquarters in New Kingston yesterday. Looking on are JFF general secretary, Horace Reid (second left) and Gary Allen (second right) deputy managing director at the RJR Communications Group. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Bigger fines and heavier penalties will be in place for teams that fail to honour their fixtures in the upcoming season of the Digicel Premier League, which kicks off tomorrow under new title sponsors Digicel.

The league which, will benefit from the mobile providers pumping in $150 million over the next three years, was officially launched at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters in New Kingston yesterday.

Better year

The league had been postponed for the last two weeks while the Premier League Club Association (PLCA) and the JFF ironed out contractual issues. However, with that resolved, president of the association, Edward Seaga, was glad to get things under way.

"We are really looking forward to a better year for the clubs, a better finance. We look forward to putting them on the field without some of the heartache they have had to endure," he said.

While satisfied with the collaboration between the JFF and PLCA in the formation of a joint organisation, Seaga made it clear that the PLCA would continue to operate much in the way it had last season.

"Just so that there is no confusion in respect of the roles, the PLCA will continue to operate in the manner that we have in the past year," Seaga explained.

President of the JFF, Captain Horace Burrell, also gave the new sponsors a hearty welcome.

"There is no doubt that the premier will benefit tremendously from their association with Digicel," Burrell said. "This season will no doubt be bigger and better looking and we anxiously look forward to it's start."

Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel, also looked forward to the collaboration.

"Jamaicans are passionate about their football. So are we, so it gives us great pride to sponsor the premier league," he said.

Concern

Although there have not been any changes to last season's format, amendments to section seven, articles six and seven of the rules and regulations could prove a source of concern for would-be delinquent teams taking part in this year's competition.

If a team does not report for a match, except in the case of extenuating circumstances recognised by the JFF, the guilty team will face an increased fine of $50,000.

However, in addition to the increased fine, the team will also have six points deducted and forced to pay an additional $75,000. That decision will not be subject to appeal.

Appeal

Unlike previous years, however, some other rulings arrived at by the competition's committee will be subject to appeal.

The issue really came to the fore last May when a now relegated Seba United failed to show up for a game against a struggling Reno. As a result, Reno were awarded the points and Seba were fined $30,000, and the teams in the relegation zone had thought the ruling to be inadequate.

Other changes to the premier league package this season will separate and clearly define areas for fourth officials, match commissaries and the media.

In addition to several promotional packages for sponsors and fans that are geared towards courting increased interest, the title sponsors will implement three new awards. Prizes will be given out to the most improved player, best goalkeeper and player of the year.

In terms of coverage, Television Jamaica, which holds exclusive rights to the event, is also promising a much-improved package, which should be enhanced by the new digital outside broadcast vehicle the station is expecting to get in the next couple of weeks.

In addition to Digicel, Nike, Wata and Joma as official gear sponsors, have also come on board. Details of the prize money are still being finalised.