Speid rules out bubble-style tournament for local football

Cavalier SC technical director Rudolph Speid has ruled out the possibility of a bubble-style tournament as an option for a return of top-flight football in Jamaica.

His comments come as Major League Soccer's 'MLS is Back' tournament begins its semi-final round this week. The tournament which is being played in a bubble environment in Orlando, Florida, is a one-off competition signalling the return of league play for the 2020 season which was suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jamaica senior men's team captain Andre Blake is currently participating in the tournament with the Philadelphia Union.

With a framework being crafted for a safe return to local football, Speid, who also serves as the Jamaica Football Federation technical committee chairman, said that such a tournament would not be possible because of the money that it would cost.

"The amount of money is just not available to isolate 12 teams, all the players and the management and coach. It's unlikely to matter. Bear in mind that a lot of these people are volunteers, they don't get a salary," Speid told STAR Sports. "The management structure doesn't get a salary with the exception of a few people. To create that sort of bubble it would be too expensive for us."

The 2019-20 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) campaign was declared null and void because of the local outbreak of the virus with four matches left to play in the regular season. Protocols are being developed for the 2020-21 to take place pending government approval with the possibility of an October start.