Aston Villa star Leon Bailey has been temporarily suspended by the Jamaican Football Federation, months after making comments about the body’s professionalism on a podcast.
Bailey, 26, made his Jamaica debut in 2019 and has five goals in 30 senior international appearances. He has not been involved in this summer’s Copa America, though, amid reports he had withdrawn from the squad before a ball was kicked, though the player’s adoptive father and agent Craig Butler described the situation as “misleading” and claimed Bailey was continuing to take a break from international football for mental health reasons..
The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has not played for his country since the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Canada in 2023. Coach Heimir Halgrimsson included him in a provisional squad for the Copa America after leaving him out for the March internationals, but said Bailey declined the call-up.
“In his case, he decided not to want to play for Jamaica,” Halgrimsson told Halftime TV ahead of the tournament. “That’s his decision, and that’s every player’s right to refuse to play for the nation, and he opted to do that. End of story for me.”
“A lot of people haven’t really thought about it from my point of view, how it is for me being Leon Bailey, playing for the national team that’s nowhere close to an England for professionalism or anything like that. I’m used to a professional lifestyle,” Bailey told the Let’s Be Honest podcast in March
“A lot of people don’t know that most of the time, I book my own flights to come and represent Jamaica because they are very unprofessional. You’re getting your flight details sent to you [at] 11 p.m before you have to travel the next day.
“The Jamaican national team doesn’t pay me. I can’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the Jamaica national team,” he added. “It’s very unprofessional, in ways you can’t even imagine.”
Leon Bailey last played for Jamaica in 2023 (
Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
A statement released by the JFF on June 26, read: “The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), has made the decision to temporarily suspend the selection of Leon Bailey to the senior Men’s National Team.
“This decision has been made in light of recent circumstances surrounding his comments and non-participation in the Copa America 2024 team, despite being selected.
“Consideration was also given to his stated desire to take a break from national duties, and suspending his selection will guard against any further miscommunication. The JFF values the contributions of all players and respects their individual decisions regarding national team participation.”
Bailey had been left out by Halgrimsson for the March international break after missing curfew during the previous camp. He has been on an indefinite break, though the former Iceland manager said he was offering the opportunity for the player to end his hiatus at the Copa America if he wanted to do so.
