Time to get Jersey off the bench and into the action!

Friday 14 August 2015

Joining UEFA and playing regular competitive internationals could be a huge boost to sport in the Island, and an inspiration to young sportsmen and women, says Jersey’s ‘Sports Minister’.

St Brelade Constable Steve Pallett says that ministerial backing for an audacious bid to see Jersey join UEFA is a great move for the Island.

And although it could be some years before Jersey is taking on the likes of England, Germany and the Netherlands in Euro Qualifiers, Mr Pallett – who serves as Assistant Economic Development Minister with responsibility for sport – says that it’s a big step forward.

His comments come after it emerged that the Council of Ministers had thrown their backing behind the Jersey Football Association’s plan to bid for membership of UEFA.

He said: “At some stage towards the end of the summer we could be looking to put an application in. I am fully supportive because it will open up an opportunity for us every four years to have two years of competitive games at a high level. Whether we succeed is another question.

“Gibraltar had to apply twice but clearly they had criteria that they had to meet.

“It’s not just a huge boost to footballm but also an opportunity for inspiring our kids.”

One of the arguments that has stood in Jersey’s way in the past is that the Island isn’t independent – but the recent admission of Gibraltar into UEFA in 2013 makes the Island’s case stronger.

But Gibraltar’s entry was agreed under a previous set of rules, and it was felt that the new rules wouldn’t allow Jersey in. That was until some industrious States-employed lawyer found a judgment from the German courts that the JFA and now the Council of Ministers feel could tip the scales in Jersey’s favour.

The minutes of the Council of Ministers stated: “The Council agreed that it was supportive of the JFA application, provided that no financial commitment was to be inferred from such expression of support, either in respect of any revenue or capital consequences arising from the application, whether successful or not, at present or at any time within the next 5-year period.”