The Jamaican Football Federation has reinstated the coach of the women’s national team, falsely claiming he had been cleared of allegations of serious misconduct by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
Hubert Busby Jr. returned to manage the Jamaica women’s national team in May this year, two and a half years after he was suspended by the federation after a former player alleged he made sexual advances towards her while coaching in 2010 the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team. 2011.
The Jamaican Football Association announced Busby’s return in May this year said in a press release that “after careful consideration and due process, our technical committee has recommended the immediate reappointment of Hubert Busby as Head Coach of the Senior Women’s National Team. He was removed from his position when the JFF asked FIFA to investigate unsavory media reports from Europe. FIFA subsequently acquitted Mr Busby.”
Busby told the media in Jamaica that “it is important now to turn that page and sit down knowing that the justification is there.” He added that his experience was part of “God’s plan.”
However, FIFA has confirmed to The Guardian that its Ethics Committee has closed a preliminary investigation into the allegations against Busby without reaching a verdict and that it may reopen an investigation if it receives more information about the original claims.
The Guardian also understands that witnesses to the alleged misconduct – including former Vancouver Whitecaps player Maloree Enoch who made the initial claims against Busby – were never interviewed by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
“In relation to the allegations against Mr Busby, the Investigation Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee has initiated a preliminary investigation into a possible violation of Article 23 (protection of physical and mental integrity) of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” said a FIFA spokesperson told the BBC. Guardian in a statement.
“We can confirm that the preliminary investigation has been closed, in accordance with FIFA’s Code of Ethics and the statute of limitations applicable at the time of the alleged incidents. This does not prevent new circumstances from reopening this investigation in accordance with Article 85 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
“A preliminary investigation may include collecting written information, requesting documents and obtaining witness statements.
“FIFA takes every allegation reported to it extremely seriously. Any allegation reported to FIFA will be treated confidentially and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations for each case.”
FIFA sources with knowledge of the Ethics Committee’s investigation into the allegations against Busby confirmed to The Guardian that the coach had not been acquitted, but that the investigation had been closed because the statute of limitations had expired. The sources said Busby was informed of the status of the investigation in a letter to his lawyer before returning to the position in Jamaica.
Busby’s lawyer declined to comment on whether or not he had been cleared by FIFA, but Busby has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Jamaica Football Federation general secretary Dennis Chung declined multiple requests for an interview or comment and could provide no evidence that Busby had been cleared of the charges by FIFA.
“The secretary general has his papers in order,” a JFF spokesperson told the Guardian, referring all questions about Busby’s return to the national team position to FIFA.
The allegations against Busby were made in 2021 by former Vancouver Whitecaps player Malloree Enoch, who claimed the coach tried to solicit sex from her during a lengthy recruiting process while he was in charge of the Whitecaps women’s team in 2010 and 2011. Busby has addressed the allegations denied. .
Enoch told the Guardian that in Orlando in 2011, after a tournament they had both attended, he convinced her to stay in a hotel because it was too late and too far for her to return home.
“When we got back to the hotel, he again hadn’t reserved a room for me,” Enoch said. “I had to stay in his room. This particular night there were two beds and I was in my own bed and he walked over to my bed. He was completely on his hands and knees on the bed. He was definitely excited. He tried to kiss and touch me. The light wasn’t on, but I don’t think he had his shirt on. I had to negotiate to get him out of bed. I told him I wasn’t interested.”
Busby has denied the allegations. He was never criminally prosecuted for the allegations.
“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” Busby said of the allegations at a press conference in May announcing his return as coach of the Jamaica women’s team. “But it’s in the past. I said it wasn’t my plan, it was God’s plan. Sometimes you just have to have faith and see things through. … It is important now to turn that page and sit down knowing that the justification is there.”
At the end of the 2011 season, Whitecaps players sent an email to club officials with a list of complaints about inappropriate behavior by Busby and his coaching staff. In 2011, Enoch also informed Whitecap management of her interactions with Busby. She said: “My biggest concern is that this will be swept under the carpet.”
The club did not renew Busby’s contract after management received the complaints, but the players were told by Whitecaps management not to speak publicly about the matter. Busby has previously told the Guardian that the club offered him a contract extension but he could not agree to the terms.
In 2021, Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Axel Shuster apologized to Enoch for the way the club initially handled the 2011 complaints.
Enoch said in a statement to the Guardian: “I am unfortunately not shocked to see Hubert back on the field coaching women. I have never been interviewed by FIFA or the Jamaican Federation.
“There is evidence that supports my allegations and that must be investigated. Unfortunately, the harsh reality we have learned in the sports world over the past decade is that governing bodies do not protect the players. They protect themselves and their coaches.
“My former teammates were grateful when our story became public in 2021. I wouldn’t wish what happened to me on anyone. I risked my name and career by speaking out.
“Axel Shuster personally told me what safeguards they wanted to put in place for the future and that the Whitecaps would be a different environment. My wish is that FIFA and the Jamaica Football Federation also take action to keep football a safe environment for players.”
