Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Simon Johnson at Wednesday night's clash between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago at the National Stadium. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

THE ENGLISH Football Association (EFA) has relaxed the time period for the payment of approximately $22 million owed to it by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) after what Simon Johnson, director of corporate affairs for the EFA, described as continuing cordial discussions with the local body.

The debt in question was inherited by the current JFF administration from the previous one and dates back to Jamaica's 2006 international friendly against then World Cup-bound England at Old Trafford.

According to the English FA, an arrangement which allots the visiting team with 10 per cent of the stadium capacity saw more than 9,000 tickets sold by the JFF but the money that amounted to £135,000 was never turned over to the English FA.

"I understand that there was some dispute in this country about whether these amounts were owed but, in our view, we are clearly of the impression that there was a sum of money owed to the FA for tickets sold to Jamaican supporters," Johnson said.

"There is no question in our minds about that. However, I would like to put on record that upon assuming leadership of the JFF, Captain Burrell readily acknowledged the sums owed, but asked for our assistance, our friendship and our understanding," he said.

Hand of friendship

According to Johnson, who was not specific about the terms of the arrangement reached at a meeting between the parties yesterday morning, the talks were ongoing and that it was hoped that a mutually beneficial arrangement could be arrived at.

"We have extended our hand of friendship. We hope to give our assistance to come up with a solution that we hope will be to the benefit of not just the FA but the benefit of the JFF and football here in Jamaica," he said.

JFF President Captain Horace Burrell expressed gratitude to the FA for its assistance and took time out to state the importance of being on good terms with the English body.

Also in attendance at the press conference were Jane Bateman, head of international relations for the FA, and one of two consultants for England's 2018 World Cup bid, Peter J. Hargitay.

"We are still going to need tremendous help from the English FA because you can't kick a ball in England without its permission. The fact that we are able to hold friendly discussions and are getting assistance speaks volumes," Burrell said.