KING

The Jamaica Football Fede-ration (JFF), in a release yesterday, said it had banned national striker Marlon King for two years. King's ban is punishment for an incident which took place on the national team's tour of England in May last year.

The ban took effect on May 31, 2006. King will not appeal the decision.

The release states: "In relation to his disrespectful behaviour and the boisterous and unapologetic manner in which he addressed members of the Jamaica Football Federation Ltd. and Jamaica, Mr. King is disqualified from representing Jamaica or any Jamaica Football Federation sanctioned game for two years, commencing on May 31, 2006."

Already disciplined

The JFF's disciplinary committee, comprising Heron Dale, Neville Oxford, Robert F. Smith and Jacqueline Cummings, made the decision at its sitting last Thursday, February 1.

The release said King was already disciplined for "leaving the camp without permission by the committee heading the delegation" on the England tour.

This recent decision comes as a result of King's reaction to the JFF management when himself and fellow British-based teammates, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Jason Euell, were locked out of their hotel room.

The players went out after the 4-1 battering by Ghana on May 29. Campbell-Ryce and Euell appealed and were decked 50 per cent of their match fee.

King did not appeal the punishment that was handed down prior to the England match, in which the Reggae Boyz were hammered 6-0.

No appeal

According to the release, King, under Article 123 & 125 of the disciplinary code, could have stated an intent to appeal the decision within 24 hours of its announcement.

However, the release noted:

"Since being advised of the committee's decision, Mr. King, through the Watford Football Club, has advised the Jamaica Football Federation that he will not be appealing the decision."

Under-17 friendlies

Meanwhile, in preparation for this year's CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifying tourney, the national Under-17 teams from Mexico and the United States will play matches against juvenile teams here on Friday, February 16 at the Harbour View Mini Stadium.

The Americans will tackle a Jamaica All-Star Youth team at 4:00 p.m. in the curtain-raiser, followed by a match-up pitting the national under-17 teams from Jamaica and Mexico at 6:00 p.m.

The CONCACAF Under-17 tournament (Group B) will be held in Jamaica, from April 21-29 and features Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, United States and the hosts Jamaica.

The CONCACAF U-17 Tourna-ment is the final round of qualification to the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

The U.S. is the only country that has qualified for all 11 previous FIFA Under-17 World Cups (formerly FIFA U-17 World Championship). The 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup will take place in South Korea from August 18-September 9.