‘Everybody was made aware’

Many-time Manning Cup, Walker Cup and Olivier Shield champions Jamaica College (JC) will learn tomorrow what sanctions they face for fielding an ineligible player with a professional contract during the ongoing schoolboy football competitions.

According to competitions officer Ewan Scott, ISSA’s disciplinary committee is scheduled to meet within the next 48 hours, with a decision expected by midday Wednesday.

“It is clear that no professional can participate,” Scott told TVJ Sports on Monday. “The decision will be made in terms of penalties, punishment, etc. That is why we will have the meeting to discuss what will happen,” Scott added.

The player at the centre of the controversy is national representative Jamone Lyle, who holds a professional contract with Jamaica Premier League club Waterhouse FC.

Waterhouse FC President Donovan White confirmed to TVJ Sports yesterday that Lyle has been under contract with the club since August 12, 2026.

Asked whether he was concerned that the matter is before ISSA’s disciplinary committee, White responded:

“I am concerned from the perspective that we were asked, and advised the school (Jamaica College) that the player was under professional contract when they asked, so the school is aware,” White told TVJ Sports by telephone yesterday.

White said Lyle was also reminded of his obligations after representing JC in his first game on October 7.

“I believe he was called before our disciplinary panel and he was pointed to the clauses in his contract that prevent him from competing in any competition not sanctioned by the club, which includes amateur competitions. He was also fined for that breach,” White revealed.

“So, the player was aware, the school was aware, and we feel we have done all that we were required to do to ensure that information got to everybody who needed to have it,” he added.

White said JC contacted Waterhouse’s general secretary and was advised accordingly.

The Gleaner understands that the complaint was lodged by Mona High within the 48-hour window governing rule infringements. JC defeated Mona 4-3 on penalties in Saturday’s rescheduled Walker Cup semi-final.

Yesterday, Mona coach Craig Butler posted a letter on a Waterhouse letterhead indicating that Lyle was fined $60,000 for breaching the club’s directive not to play for JC in a match on October 7.

The ISSA amateurism rule is not new. Since September 1, 2015, ISSA has barred professionals from all its competitions.

Its amateurism rule states that competition among member schools “should be restricted to student-athletes who are fully committed to their academic development” and that every registered athlete “MUST maintain their amateur status to retain their eligibility.”

Among the ways a player can lose amateur status is by being “contracted to a professional team”.

ISSA President Keith Wellington confirmed the position in 2019, telling STAR Sports that players can straddle Premier League and schoolboy football, provided they do not hold professional contracts.

“Once they have signed a professional contract where they are compensated, we don’t accept them participating,” Wellington said at the time.

“The only issue that we have is where they would have signed a professional contract which ties them to the club,” he added.

Wellington said the rule was introduced following the 2015 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships incident involving then-Calabar sprinter Michael O’Hara, who became a Digicel brand ambassador and turned professional.