JFF denies prior knowledge of Busby allegations

General Secretary Dalton Wint says the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) had no prior knowledge of Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby Jr being accused of sexual misconduct prior to his employment by the federation.

Busby, 52, has been suspended indefinitely by the JFF after an allegation of sexual misconduct by former Vancouver Whitecaps player Malloree Enoch while he was head coach of the club between 2010 and 2011. However, he has since denied the allegations.

The JFF has since written to FIFA requesting a full investigation and said that it would not make a permanent decision until it has all the facts available.

"We didn't know anything about this before he was employed by us," Wint said. "The investigation will be done because we asked somebody to do the investigation, so they will find out all of those things.

"This is tough because Mr Busby has been a part of the programme for some time now and to have that aborted, albeit possibly temporarily, is not good.

"I don't know what will come out of it, and we have asked FIFA to investigate it, so let's leave that to them."

The Reggae Girlz will start their FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers in February, and Wint said that the JFF will be moving swiftly to ensure that they employ the services of a coach on a temporarily basis.

"We are trying to get a coach in place as soon as possible until it is sorted out," he said. "We are committed to the programme, and we take our ladies very seriously and anything that affects them, we will have to address it.

"We are looking everywhere locally and overseas. Mr Busby has done a tremendous job with the team, and we need the progression of the Girlz to continue."