Jersey Football Association

History

The Jersey Football Association was founded in 1905 and affiliated itself with The Football Association based in England. This became a practice that the other British Crown Dependencies would follow. Though The FA treat Jersey like a county football board, the JFA run their own league system independent from the English football pyramid. During the Occupation of the Channel Islands by Nazi Germany, the JFA was not permitted to function by the Nazis and their pitches were confiscated. At the Liberation, the JFA organised a celebratory match between local Jerseymen and the British Army.

UEFA application

In 2015, the JFA applied for membership in FIFA and UEFA which would allow them to play against other international teams, independent of England. They opted to choose this route versus creating a club side for the English leagues, as neighbouring Guernsey had done with Guernsey F.C. They based their application on the success of the Gibraltar Football Association in the latter's application for Gibraltar to join UEFA. However, UEFA changed its rules following Gibraltar joining to state that membership would only be granted to independent countries.

The JFA took the case against UEFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled in their favour that UEFA must give the JFA the chance to apply. Though Jersey was initially hopeful, the FA, which Jersey had viewed as a key body, declined to support them. Jersey lost the vote in congress with 49 out of 55 against, Iceland abstaining and five not registering a vote. Despite losing the vote, the UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said he would be prepared to look into assisting Jersey.

Aftermath

In the aftermath, Jersey player James Scott applied for a Jersey team independent of the JFA to join ConIFA. The application was accepted for the Parishes of Jersey football team to play in ConIFA matches. Also as a result, Jersey Bulls were founded to enter the English football pyramid and were affiliated to the JFA. In 2019, the JFA merged with the Jersey Football Combination, with the JFA taking over the running of league football in Jersey.

In 2023, it was rumored by Greenland Manager Morten Rutjkær, that Jersey were interested in joining CONCACAF.

Presidents of the Jersey Football Association

Football stadiums in Jersey

References

References

1. "Jersey FA • Jersey Sport".
2. Pilnick, Brent. "Jersey bids to join Uefa to play international football". BBC Sport.
3. Rumsby, Ben. (2016-05-11). "Why Jersey have high hopes of joining Fifa's exclusive club". The Telegraph.
4. (1905-07-24). "History". Jersey FA.
5. Pilnick, Brent. (2016-10-03). "Jersey to appeal to CAS after Uefa rejects membership application". BBC Sport.
6. (2017-09-28). "Court of Arbitration in Sport orders Jersey case to be heard by Uefa congress". BBC Sport.
7. Pilnick, Brent. (2017-12-22). "Jersey's hops of Uefa membership 'minimal' after FA refuses to back island's bid". BBC Sport.
8. (2018-02-26). "Jersey's bid for UEFA membership rejected". Jersey Evening Post.
9. (2018-02-14). "UEFA chief has time for Jersey". Jersey Evening Post.
10. (2018-09-11). "'Parishes of Jersey' accepted into Conifa". ITV News.
11. (2018-11-30). "Jersey Bulls get FA approval for Combined Counties League bid". BBC Sport.
12. (2019-02-27). "Jersey Football Combination merges with island's FA in historic tie-up". BBC Sport.
13. "The Greenland national team joining CONCACAF? {{!}} Interview with Manager Morten Rutjkær".
14. "Bradley Vowden become new JFA President as Phil Austin MBE steps down". Jersey FA.