No problem with English FA – Butler

PHOENIX ACADEMY founder, Craig Butler, said he expects no repercussions to emanate from the English Football Association’s (FA) enquiry into his academy’s affiliation status with the local governing body, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

Butler, who declared that he has an independent academy, admits he has no affiliation with the JFF or the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), the parish in which the academy is based.

Nevertheless, he does not see an FA enquiry having any impact on his academy or the recent Chelsea signing of Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards.

“They (FA) are just asking if I’m affiliated. No (there’s nothing to worry about), this is standard procedure. No repercussions,” he told The Gleaner.

In previous years, the academy used to align itself with clubs such as Duhaney Park, Stony Hill, Central Kingston and Humble Lion.

However, they have not done so in most recent years.

“I can be independent. You have independent academies. If I wanted to be affiliated with a parish association, I would be affiliated with a parish association,” he offered

Days after Phoenix Academy boss announced that Richards had signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea Football Club, the Football Association raised the question regarding Phoenix’s affiliation with the JFF.

Federation general secretary, Dennis Chung, confirmed they had received correspondence from the FA requesting confirmation of Phoenix Academy’s registration with the body.

He told Radio Jamaica Sports that the federation had sent out queries to the parish associations in order to verify if Phoenix was registered with any of them. After they have gathered the responses, he said the JFF would reply to the FA.

However, Chung, who is currently at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, could not be reached to answer if there were any regulations regarding independent academies or if any repercussions could come from not being affiliated.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com