Omar McFarlane leaves JFF operations post amid federation restructuring

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Omar McFarlane has resigned from his post as operations manager at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), framing the move as a way to help the financially strained body through an internal overhaul. He is staying on with the federation in his capacity as global youth ambassador.

His path through the organisation began when he was named global youth ambassador in May 2024. From June 2025 he held the acting general manager brief, then took up the operations manager role in January 2026.

“The federation is working through a tough financial period right now, and after a World Cup qualifying campaign that didn’t go the way any of us hoped, some restructuring is needed. Management has initiated that process, and I respect a needed reorganisation, and I’d rather support it than be a bottleneck to it,” said McFarlane.

On why he stepped back from the operations brief, he said, “In an effort to be transparent and ensure there are no conflicts in roles at the Jamaica Football Federation, I’m reverting to my role as the global youth ambassador. In this role, I have provided financial support to the youth teams through my various businesses.”

According to McFarlane, his backing of the domestic game has totalled $30 million across the last two years. He intends to put greater energy into building the sport from the bottom up.

“I will now spend more time on the ground, more time in the schools, the parishes, the communities, where this game actually gets built,” he said.

He pointed as well to the YO Sports & Art Foundation, which he and his wife, Yendi Phillips-McFarlane, founded together.

“Alongside my wife, we have established the YO Sports & Art Foundation. Through the foundation, we have a vision of 12 projects lined up over the next 12 months supporting grassroots programmes, youth development, basic school tournaments and referee support across the island. In addition to several initiatives supporting the arts,” McFarlane said.

Looking back on his stints in the federation’s management structure, he thanked the JFF for the chance to contribute and made clear that his loyalty to the national game has not wavered.

“I’m proud of and grateful for the opportunity to serve in several different capacities at the federation, but for now, just know I’m not going anywhere. I want to emphasise that this was a mutual decision with the federation. Jamaican football will always have me in its corner,” he said.