Unscrupulous persons linked to the admission gates at the National Stadium are alleged to have defrauded the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) of approximately $4 million during last week's friendly international between Jamaica and Uruguay, a source close to the JFF told the Observer yesterday.

"There was a massive breakdown in security control at the game last Wednesday. People openly recycled tickets and this happened mainly over the bleachers," said the source.
And the source was quick to jump to the defence of the JFF, saying: "The JFF only hired the stadium, they had nothing to do with security.

"That was under the purview of Independence Park Limited, and I also understand that the auditors (KPMG Peat Marwick) are aware of the criminal acts and have submitted same in their report."

When contacted yesterday, Earl Bailey, press officer at the JFF, conceded that the federation encountered difficulties at the gate, but he would not give details. Said he: "Based on preliminary reports there was a breakdown of security at the gates, especially in the bleachers.

"However, investigations are taking place and details will be made available to the press at a briefing scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

"We want to make the public aware of what went wrong, because they supported us tremendously," he added.
Bailey would not reveal whether the JFF made a profit or loss from the game, or if the matter was referred to the police for action.

Estimates put the crowd at 80-90 per cent capacity with prices being: $1600 for category 2 Grandstand; $1200 for category 1 Grandstand, and $500 for bleachers.

Early last year, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), through the Independence Park Limited, manager of the Stadium complex, took over the security arrangement and management inside and outside the Stadium, plus seating, ticketing operations and the introduction of ushers to streamline seating.

"The UDC hopes to ensure that the patrons who use the facility are safe and to also ensure that there is consistency in the way the operations are carried out," Marjorie Campbell, UDC general manager, said.

The agreement between the JFF and the UDC was ironed out at a five-hour meeting at the UDC headquarters in downtown Kingston, with representatives of both parties, along with representatives from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), ODPEM, INSPORTS, Jamaica Fire Brigade and Sports Development Foundation.

Michael Hall, general manager of the Independence Park Limited, while not really conceding guilt on the part of his company, said: "I believe that all the entities involved with the organisation of games, including Independence Park Limited, need to tighten up to ensure that there is integrity in the system.

"I am investigating whether the procedure that we set out (for the manning of gates) was followed.

"Independence Park Limited needs to look at how it controls things ... but there is definitely room for improvement," Hall conceded.

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