ISSA to decide JC’s fate over pro player infringement

BRIAN LEWIS
Staff Reporter
MANY-TIME Manning Cup, Walker Cup and Olivier Shield champions Jamaica College (JC) will learn by Wednesday what sanctions it faces for fielding an ineligible player with a professional contract during the ongoing Manning Cup and Walker Cup competitions.
According to Competitions Officer Ewan Scott, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) disciplinary committee will meet within the next 48 hours, with a decision to be communicated by midday Wednesday.
“It is clear that no professional can participate,” Scott told TVJ Sports on Monday.
“The decision will be made in terms of penalties, punishment, etcetera. That is why we will have the meeting to discuss what will happen,” Scott added.
The player at the centre of the storm is national representative Jamone Lyle, who holds a professional contract with Jamaica Premier League club Waterhouse FC.
Waterhouse FC President Donovan White confirmed to TVJ Sports yesterday that Lyle has been under contract with the Premier League campaigners since “August 12, 2026”.
JC aware
Asked whether he was concerned that the matter is before ISSA’s disciplinary committee, White responded, “I am concerned from the perspective that we were asked and advised the school (JC) that the player was under professional contract when they asked, so the school is aware,” White told TVJ Sports by telephone on Monday.
White said Lyle was also reminded of his obligations after representing JC in his first game on October 7.
“I believe he was called before our disciplinary panel, and he was pointed to the clauses in his contract that prevent him from competing in any competition not sanctioned by the club, which includes amateur competitions,” White revealed.
“He was also fined for that breach.
“So the player was aware, the school was aware, and we feel we have done all that we were required to do to ensure that information got to everybody who needed to have it,” informed White.
He said JC contacted Waterhouse’s general secretary, who advised them accordingly.
Mona High complaint
The RJRGLEANER Group understands that the complaint was lodged by Mona High and came within the 48-hour window that governs rule infringements.
JC beat Mona 4-3 on penalties in Saturday’s rescheduled Walker Cup semifinal.
On Monday, Mona’s coach Craig Butler posted the letter under Waterhouse’s letterhead that Lyle was fined $60,000 for breaching the club’s directive to desist from playing for JC in a match on October 7.
ISSA Amateurism Rule
The ISSA Amateurism rule is not new. Since September 1, 2015, ISSA has barred professionals from all its competitions.
Its Amateurism Rule states that competition among member schools “should be restricted to student-athletes who are fully committed to their academic development,” and that every registered athlete “MUST maintain their amateur status to retain their eligibility”.
Among the ways a player can lose amateur status is by being “contracted to a professional team”.
ISSA President Keith Wellington confirmed the position in 2019, telling STAR Sports that players can straddle the Premier League and schoolboy football, provided there is no professional contract.
“Once they have signed a professional contract where they are compensated, we don’t accept them participating,” Wellington said at the time.
“The only issue that we have is where they would have signed a professional contract which ties them to the club,” he added.
Wellington said the rule came into effect after the 2015 Champs incident involving then Calabar sprinter Michael O’Hara, who was made a Digicel brand ambassador and turned professional.