Players from Jamaica, Isaac Hayden and Amari’i Bell, have expressed their concerns about Mason Greenwood potentially joining the national squad ahead of the World Cup, labeling it a “farce” and deeming it “unfair.”
Greenwood, who has previously earned a single cap for England, switched his allegiance to Jamaica earlier this year and received his Jamaican passport in August, allowing him to represent the country of his grandparents.
Although the 24-year-old declined a call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda in September, he is keeping his international options open. Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts told The Athletic that he remains hopeful Greenwood will join the Reggae Boyz before the World Cup, expressing excitement over his documentation being finalized.
However, this notion might not sit well with his Jamaican teammates, who have worked diligently to position the nation for a World Cup berth, with intercontinental playoffs against New Caledonia and potentially the DR Congo set for March.
“I’ve only represented Jamaica for a year, and there was some initial resistance when I joined, but I’ve played 12 games, and my commitment to the team is evident,” Hayden, a former player for Arsenal and Newcastle, now with QPR, stated. “I give my all on the field, and my aim is to help Jamaica advance to the World Cup.”
“[The JFF] seems fixated on big names and recruiting players. They want the best team, but I told the JFF: ‘If a player isn’t willing to commit for the final qualifying round, except for injury, I don’t see why they should be allowed to join the group in March or after the season if we qualify.’ That simply shouldn’t be permitted.”
Greenwood was suspended by Manchester United in January 2022 due to allegations involving a young woman and faced serious charges, including attempted rape and assault, before the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February 2023 that the case had been discontinued. He is currently rebuilding his career at Marseille, where he tops the Ligue 1 scoring charts this season with 10 goals in 12 matches.
“The player’s quality, his stats, and what he is delivering are superb,” Hayden acknowledged. “But it ultimately comes down to principles and integrity. If players can simply show up because of a World Cup, it would undermine the entire process and reflect poorly on both the player and the organization for allowing that.”
Bell, a Charlton defender, also mentioned that Greenwood—along with any other player, like Everton’s Dwight McNeil—joining late would be “controversial.”
“Many of us have dedicated years of effort for our nation, despite various challenges behind the scenes,” he said. “We’ve already managed to navigate through that. It wouldn’t be fair to those who’ve been through the entire qualification process, as they may never have another chance to play in a World Cup. It’s a somewhat controversial issue.”
Bell emphasized that a group discussion would be necessary before any new players are integrated into the team.
“Absolutely, especially when it comes to a World Cup,” he stated. “You want positive energy and unity within the squad. It’s important to maintain good relationships among all players.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel noted in September that he had not spoken with Greenwood and clarified that the Marseille forward is not part of his considerations.