Pat Garel-led Beach Soccer Jamaica refuses to back down, appeals Supreme Court verdict
Key Points(5)
- The Pat Garel-led Beach Soccer Jamaica (BSJ) has announced its intention to appeal Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, which denied an application to continue the temporary injunction that had prevented the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) from holding an election.
- The decision to deny the application was based on the court's view that Garel and BSJ did not adequately prove their affiliation or membership with the JFF.
- Despite the ruling, the court has scheduled a hearing for April 23 to resolve the dispute between BSJ and the Beach Football Association (BFA) regarding representation rights and voting privileges at the election.
- Garel's attorney, Hugh Wildman, emphasized that although the injunction was lifted, the court's decision to set a hearing date indicates the strength of BSJ's case.
- He highlighted the urgency of reinstating the injunction to prevent the JFF from proceeding with the election before a final determination is made.
The Pat Garel-led Beach Soccer Jamaica (BSJ) has announced its intention to appeal Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, which denied an application to continue the temporary injunction that had prevented the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) from holding an election.
The decision to deny the application was based on the court's view that Garel and BSJ did not adequately prove their affiliation or membership with the JFF. Despite the ruling, the court has scheduled a hearing for April 23 to resolve the dispute between BSJ and the Beach Football Association (BFA) regarding representation rights and voting privileges at the election.
Garel's attorney, Hugh Wildman, emphasized that although the injunction was lifted, the court's decision to set a hearing date indicates the strength of BSJ's case. He highlighted the urgency of reinstating the injunction to prevent the JFF from proceeding with the election before a final determination is made.
“We feel compelled to immediately appeal the ruling,” stated Wildman, emphasizing the need to prevent the JFF from holding the election until the membership issue is resolved.
Determination to uphold their organization's rights
Garel expressed disappointment that they couldn't file the appeal immediately but assured that the necessary documents would be submitted on Monday. She emphasized their confidence in the strength of their case and their determination to uphold their organization's rights.
JFF General Secretary Dennis Chung acknowledged the importance of FIFA's desire for the election to proceed promptly but reiterated the need to ensure that all issues, including membership disputes, are resolved satisfactorily.
“We are happy that this is over so the members can have their day. It’s about the members of congress, and at the end of the day, we want to ensure that the members have their franchise and therefore it is important that this happens,” said Chung, highlighting the federation's commitment to ensuring a fair and democratic process.
