KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The rift between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey deepened on Wednesday.
According to a news release from the JFF, the national governing body indicated that it had suspended Bailey’s selection to the senior men’s national team, also known as the Reggae Boyz, and had referred the matter to the Disciplinary & Ethics Committee.
The news release added that the JFF decision was made following recent incidents, including Bailey’s decision not to participate in the 2024 Copa América tournament after being selected.
The news release stated that JFF officials also considered a previous announcement from Bailey that he wanted to take a break from national duties as a reason to suspend his selection, as this move would ultimately guard against any further miscommunication.
“The JFF values the contributions of all players and respects their individual decisions regarding national team participation,” the news release stated.
Bailey was included in the Reggae Boyz squad despite publicly stating in March that he wanted to take a break from the national team.
Craig Butler, Bailey’s father, posted on social media after Bailey was named to the Copa squad that his son’s position “has not changed.”
The decision of Bailey to step away from the Reggae Boyz followed a decision by head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson to suspend him for Concacaf Nations League matches in March after the winger missed curfew during a November training camp.
Bailey took exception to the suspension—and basically everything else related to the Jamaican team and federation—when he announced he would not be returning to the national team in a brutally honest interview on a podcast in Jamaica.
Bailey said that representing Jamaica was a gift he felt he was giving to his country.
With that background, it was surprising when Hallgrímsson released his squad for the Copa on Wednesday night, and Bailey’s name was on the list.
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