Reggae Boyz players Lance Laing and Upston Edwards, along with the island’s head coach Winfried Schaefer, have been slapped hard by FIFA for indiscretions during Jamaica’s return-leg World Cup qualifying match against Nicaragua.
Laing and Edwards were found guilty of using offensive language and gestures to the match officials while Schaefer was charged with displaying unsportsman-like behavior against the officials.
Both players were suspended for Jamaica’s next four games in the World Cup qualifiers, while Schafer will have to watch the next two games from the stands and not from the customary sidelines. All three were also fined US$5,150.
The ban means that the players will miss Jamaica’s matches against Panama on November 13 in Jamaica; against Haiti on November 17 in Haiti; against Costa Rica on March 25, 2016 in Jamaica; and the return-leg against Costa Rica on March 29, 2016. Schaefer will miss the Panama and Haiti encounters.
FIFA’s actions stem from the Reggae Boyz game against Nicaragua in Managua. Jamaica needed to win the game by two clear goals to advance further into the qualifiers, after their opponents had travelled to Kingston and won the game 3-2.
Jamaica rallied to win the game by the exact 2-0 that was needed to remain
