The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) recently released a statement announcing that Leon Bailey has been removed from the national team, citing his outspoken criticism of the team’s structure and the FA’s way of working several months ago. British media outlets have followed up on this matter.
In a podcast titled “Let’s Be Honest,” Bailey blasted the JFF for its lack of professionalism. Bailey said, “A lot of the people at the FA haven’t considered things from my perspective. I’m used to professional football, playing for the Jamaica national team, which is nowhere near as good as the England national team or other similar teams, is so unadaptable for me.”
Besides questioning the professionalism, Bailey also revealed that the JFF didn’t even help players book flights and withheld their fees. Bailey said, “Many people don’t know that in most cases, I book my own flights to play for Jamaica because the FA is so unprofessional. They’ll send you flight information at 11 pm the night before you leave. And the Jamaica national team hasn’t paid me. I can’t remember the last time I received money from the Jamaica national team. It’s so unprofessional, some aspects you can’t even imagine.”
Regarding Bailey’s accusations, the JFF confirmed his removal on Wednesday, writing in a statement: “The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has decided to temporarily suspend the selection of Leon Bailey for the Senior Men’s National Team, this decision comes on the heels of his recent comments and his refusal to participate in the 2024 Copa América, despite being selected. At the same time, the federation also considered his expressed desire to take a break from national team duties, and suspending his selection will prevent any communication breakdown. The JFF values the contributions of all players and respects their personal decisions regarding participation in national team games.”
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