The Jamaican Football Federation has reinstated the coach of its women’s national team falsely claiming he has been cleared of allegations of serious misconduct by Fifa’s Ethics Committee.
Hubert Busby Jr returned to lead Jamaica women’s national team in May this year, two and a half years after being suspended by the federation after a former player alleged he made sexual advances towards her while he was coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team in 2010 and 2011.
Announcing Busby’s return in May this year, the Jamaican Football Federation said in a media 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 the position when the JFF requested Fifa to investigate unsavory media reports originating in Europe. Fifa subsequently cleared Mr Busby.”
Busby told media in Jamaica that “it is important now to turn that page and sit in front of you knowing that the vindication is there.” He added that his experience was part of “God’s plan”.
Fifa, however, has confirmed to the Guardian that its Ethics Committee closed a preliminary investigation into allegations against Busby without reaching any judgment 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.
“With regard to the allegations against Mr Busby, the Investigatory Chamber of the Fifa Ethics Committee initiated a preliminary investigation into a potential breach of Article 23 (protection of physical and mental integrity) of the Fifa Code of Ethics,” a Fifa spokesperson told the Guardian in a statement.
“We can confirm that the preliminary investigation has been closed, in accordance with the Fifa Code of Ethics and statute of limitations that applied at the time of the alleged incidents. This is without prejudice that new circumstances may reopen this investigation in accordance with Article 85 of the Fifa Code of Ethics.
“A preliminary investigation may, amongst other steps, include collecting written information, requesting documents and obtaining witness statements.
“Fifa takes any allegation reported to it extremely seriously. Any allegation reported to Fifa is handled in confidence and according to applicable rules and regulations to each case.”
Fifa sources with knowledge of the Ethics Committee investigation into the allegations against Busby confirmed to the Guardian that the coach had not been cleared but that the investigation had been closed because the statute of limitations had expired. The sources said Busby had been informed of the investigation’s status in a letter sent to his lawyer prior to returning to the Jamaica position.
Busby’s lawyer declined to comment on whether or not he had been cleared by Fifa, but Busby has consistently denied any sort of misconduct.
The general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation, Dennis Chung, declined multiple requests for an interview or comment and was unable to provide evidence that Busby had been cleared of the allegations by Fifa.
“The General Secretary has his papers in order,” a JFF spokesperson told the Guardian, referring all questions regarding 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 attempted to solicit sex from her during a prolonged recruitment process while he was in charge of the Whitecaps women’s team in 2010 and 2011. Busby has denied the allegations.
Enoch told the Guardian that in Orlando in 2011, following a tournament they both attended, he convinced her to stay at a hotel because it was too late and too far for her to return home.
“When we got back to the hotel he again didn’t have a room reserved for me,” Enoch said. “I had to stay in his room. This particular night there were two beds and I laid in my own bed and he made his way to my bed. He was on all fours fully on the bed. He was definitely aroused. He tried to kiss and touch me. The light was not on but I don’t think he had his shirt on. I had to negotiate to get him off the bed. I told him I wasn’t interested.”
Busby has denied the allegations. He has never faced criminal charges over the allegations.
“I wish it on no one,” Busby said of the allegations at a press conference in May announcing his return to coaching the Jamaica women’s team. “But it is the past. I have said it was not my plan but God’s plan. Sometimes you just have to have faith and see things through. … It is important now to turn that page and sit in front of you knowing that the vindication is there.”
At the end of the 2011 season, Whitecaps players sent an email to club officials detailing a list of complaints concerning inappropriate behavior by Busby and his coaching staff. In 2011, Enoch also notified Whitecaps management of her interactions with Busby. She stated: “My biggest concern is, this will be swept under the carpet.”
The club did not renew Busby’s contract after management received the complaints but players were told not to speak publicly about the issue by Whitecaps management. Busby has previously told the Guardian he was offered a contract renewal by the club but he was unable to agree to terms.
In 2021, the Vancouver Whitecaps chief executive officer, Axel Shuster, apologized to Enoch for how the club initially handled the 2011 complaints.
Enoch said in a statement to the Guardian: “I am, sadly, not shocked to see that Hubert is back on the field coaching women again. I was never interviewed by Fifa or the Jamaica federation.
“There is evidence to support my allegations and it needs to be investigated. Unfortunately, the harsh reality we have learned in the world of sports over the last decade is that governing bodies do not protect the players. They protect themselves and their coaches.
“My former teammates were grateful when our story went public in 2021. I wish what happened to me on no one. I risked my name and career speaking out.
“Axel Shuster told me personally the safeguards they were planning 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 act to keep soccer a safe environment for players.”
