CMC – The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has been heralded by FIFA for making significant improvements to its operations.
Christoph Suppiger, FIFA’s head of Member Association (MA) Finance Services, said because of the progress made by the JFF in the last five years it would now be eligible for increased funding from the sport’s governing body.
Back in 2020, financial restrictions were imposed as FIFA oversaw reforms to the JFF’s governance and financial structures.
Under these constraints, the JFF received limited funding, with disbursements made in smaller increments.

However, Suppiger said following a review of the JFF’s operations, FIFA was satisfied it now met their benchmarks.
“The member association can successfully access 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 document have massively been improved, and the FIFA-funded activities were fully supported with supporting documentation,” Suppiger said.
He further disclosed that FIFA-appointed auditors would be conducting audits on the way FIFA funds are being spent.
Suppiger said the upgrades meant the JFF would now have access to more financial aid from FIFA.

He revealed that the JFF would be able to access US$3 million per approved project and US$1.25 million per year for operational costs.
However, he maintained that the JFF would have to meet certain criteria to access all of the available funding.

“It means that now the member association has full access again for funding. We can provide bigger amounts for installments. It doesn’t mean we will release any backlog in any one go.
“For each financial year, in order to get the full amount of [US] $1.25 million dollars, member associations have to fulfil certain criteria football related,” Suppiger explained

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