Olympic manager despondent over ‘harsh’ JFF sanctions
Published:Thursday | June 8, 2023 | 1:35 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
OLYMPIC GARDENS have been booted from the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) following last Saturday’s no-show for a semi-final against Frazsiers Whip.
Additional sanctions will have significant impact on the Olympic Gardens club and its manager, Michael Peart, believes that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has been heavy handed in its judgment.
The no-show paved the way for Frazsiers Whip to face Cavalier in this Saturday’s final at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
“We had difficulty in getting to the venue to participate. Secondly, I think that the rules are too harsh because it’s like four punishments that you’re giving me for one offence. We don’t have any sponsor, and we are just trying to make the girls show their talent,” a despondent Peart stated.
According to Article 7.5 of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) regulations: “If a team does not report for a match – except in cases of force majeure recognised by the JFF Competitions Committee – or if it refuses to continue to play or leaves the stadium/venue before the end of a match, the team shall be considered as having lost the match and three points shall be awarded to its opponents with a score of 3-0 or more if, in the case of an abandoned match, the winning team has already reached a higher score at the time the guilty team leaves the field. The guilty team shall be fined Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). The team may also be referred to the JFF Disciplinary Committee for further actions to be taken in accordance with Article 69 of the JFF Disciplinary Code.
Olympic have also been fined the $50,000, according to the rule.
In addition, Olympic will also have to pay compensation for any damages or losses suffered by Frazsiers Whip.
The rules, and, therefore, the punitive measures taken by the JFF, and announced in a release, also means hat Olympic Gardens are disqualified from taking part in the 2023-24 JWPL and have rendered any remuneration for the ongoing season null.
The final of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League will now be contested by Frazsiers Whip and Cavalier, set for Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence with kick-off set for 3:30 p.m.