PFJL says sorry
Harbour View still mum on reporter’s alleged assault
Published:Thursday | February 16, 2023 | 1:32 AM
OWEN HILL, chief executive officer of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), publicly apologised to The Gleaner reporter who was allegedly assaulted by a Harbour View player during a fracas that took place at a Jamaica Premier League (JPL) game at the Wembley Centre of Excellence two Sundays ago.
At the first JPL press conference of the season at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) office yesterday, Hill took the time to acknowledge the journalist and expressed his regret over the incident.
“Let me publicly apologise for any incident that may have happened to you or any media.
“That is not what we want, and we don’t condone that, and every team going forward should understand that.
“There is an environment that we are trying to build, and we do not want anything that negates that,” said Hill.
The reporter allegedly had his phone slapped from his hands by Harbour View goalkeeper David Martin, who demanded that he stop recording an incident between Harbour View officials and the police during a game against Vere United.
When the reporter did not comply with his wishes, the allegations are that the player took it upon himself to hit the phone from his hand in a bid to stop the recording.
Interestingly, while Harbour View were one of the teams present at the press conference, they were silent on the issue.
Harbour View coach Ludlow Bernard said the club would use the experience from the game at the Wembley Centre of Excellence as a source of motivation.
Meanwhile, Hill said the press conference was the first of a weekly fixture and would double as an event where sponsors would be given the opportunity to launch and promote products.
“We want to ensure that this press conference happens weekly. We are going to have this here at the JFF office every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
“So coaches and players, be ready. You are going to be in front of the camera more often because this is important,” said Hill.
While Hill felt that the weekly fixture should have begun earlier, he has been philosophical about it.
“Ultimately, we are trying to ensure that we get information out to the press very early because we need every single instance of coverage for the league. We need every opportunity to put our best foot forward, and this is another opportunity.
“For the sponsors, we continue to engage them in meaningful ways, and this gives them another opportunity to be happy. As we go forward, we will have more of them being a part of it. You will ask you for your own remarks, how you want to launch any product, services, or anything of the sort, and you will get this opportunity consistently.”