FOOTBALL-FIFA lauds JFF for improving its operations

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—FIFA has praised the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for significantly improving its operations.

Christoph Suppiger, FIFA’s head of Member Association (MA) Finance Services, said the JFF’s progress in the last five years makes it eligible for increased funding from the sport’s governing body.

Financial restrictions were imposed in 2020 as FIFA oversaw reforms to the JFF’s governance and economic structures.

Under these constraints, the JFF received limited funding, with disbursements made in smaller increments.

However, Suppiger said that after reviewing the JFF’s operations, FIFA was satisfied that it now met its benchmarks.

“The member association can successfully access the online banking system; they have upgraded the accounting of their system and have, additionally, made other efforts around procurement procedures.

“Also, the level of supporting documents has massively improved, and the FIFA-funded activities were fully supported by supporting documentation,” Suppiger said.

He further disclosed that FIFA-appointed auditors would be conducting audits on how FIFA funds are spent.

Suppiger said the upgrades meant the JFF could now access more financial aid from FIFA.

He revealed that the JFF could access US$3 million per approved project and US$1.25 million per year for operational costs.

However, he maintained that the JFF must meet specific criteria to access all available funding.

“It means that the member association now has full access again for funding. We can provide more significant installment amounts. It doesn’t mean we will release any backlog in any one go.

“For each financial year, to get the full amount of [US]$1.25 million, member associations have to fulfill certain criteria football related,” Suppiger explained

“Also, they need to fulfill the criteria of having competitions for women, girls, and boys to access the full funding.”