By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Euell..."It's taken a long time but it's great news. - File
CHARLTON ATHLETIC striker Jason Euell has been cleared by FIFA to represent Jamaica in the World Cup qualifiers but will not be in Jamaica's squad tonight when they host El Salvador at the National Stadium at 7:00.
Euell's application to represent Jamaica, the birthplace of his father, was initially rejected by FIFA because he did not have dual citizenship when he represented England at the Under-21 level in 1997.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), with the help of former president Captain Horace Burrell, appealed the case and the Legal Affairs Committee of FIFA reconvened and Monday night informed JFF general secretary Burchell Gibson of its new ruling.
GREAT NEWS
"We received a letter under the signature of the general secretary of FIFA, Dr. Urs Lindsay, at 8:50 this (yesterday) morning and it advised that based on what we have indicated ... he (Euell) is eligible to play," said Gibson.
Like the JFF, Euell was delighted to hear the news.
"I'm very happy," Euell said on the Charlton Athletic website. "It's taken a long time but it's great news. To be honest, I'd still like to see it in writing because it's been so complicated, but it looks like everything will be worthwhile." the 27-year-old said.
Gibson said the ruling was made by a "single judge of the players' status committee" based on additional information provided by the Jamaican Government through Sports Minister Portia Simspon Miller.
A portion of the FIFA letter read: "(With) the clarifications provided by the Jamaican government, the single judge felt satisfied that the player, Jason Euell, was already a Jamaican citizen when he participated in his first match for England's Under-21 team.
"Given that (one of) his parents was a Jamaican citizen... the single judge thus concluded that the requirements of Article 15 paragraph three of the regulations governing the application of the FIFA status have been met."
WAS INITIALLY TURNED DOWN
Gibson further explained that Euell was initially turned down because a letter from the chief immigration officer of Jamaica failed to clearly state that Euell was a Jamaican citizen at the time of his birth.
"That was one of the main reasons why he was turned down," he said.
However, things took a turn for the better when Jamaican authorities provided FIFA with new evidence of Euell's Jamaican citizenship.
Burrell, who is a member of FIFA's disciplinary committee, was at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland last week and supplied FIFA with the necessary documents and pleaded the case on behalf of Jamaica.
"I will continue to do all that I can to enhance the success of Jamaica's football programme as I have always put country over all other interests," Burrell said.
"I'd like to say a special thanks to the Sports Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, CONCACAF president Jack Warner, Dr. Urs Lindsay and Peter Hagaty, special advisor to president Blatter, who were all instrumental in helping to clear Jason," he said.
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