Case of Greenwood & Jamaica: It's not about destination but journey

Even though there's currently a lull on the matter, the topic of Mason Greenwood's potential switch of allegiance and joining the Jamaica national team is still hot, especially after the popular Reggae Boyz qualified for the inter-confederational playoffs.

The 24-year-old did make an appearance for England against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League five years ago, but has since been omitted from either Gareth Southgate's or his successor Thomas Tuchel's plans.

Despite his fantastic form and one of the key roles at Roberto De Zerbi's Olympique Marseille, Greenwood's "ghosts from the past" currently overshadow his 11 goals and four assists in 17 matches for the French club.

Greenwood in action for Marseille (©Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images/Gallo Images)

In January 2022, he was accused of rape and assault, and although he denied all the allegations, his reputation was tarnished.

In England, they still remember the wave of public anger Man United faced when they tried to reintegrate him into Erik ten Hag's squad, and neither the Three Lions management nor FA officials want to risk anything, especially since they have a powerful squad whose results have been outstanding.

Last August, Greenwood obtained a Jamaican passport, as both his maternal grandparents were from this country. Still, no matter how much the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) and the ex-national team head coach Steve McClaren (who had known the player from his days at Old Trafford) talked with him, he has always somehow postponed his final decision, unlike Brentford's Rico Henry (for example), who debuted for the Reggae Boyz shortly after getting the Jamaican passport.

Former England starboy switches allegiance as he'll play for Jamaica

According to The Athletic, the tactician even wanted to call Greenwood up for Jamaica's October clashes, but the forward's father informed him that his son wanted to keep his options open.

The same source claims that the player has privately expressed a desire to hold out in case Tuchel opted to include him in England's squad, but also quotes the German's statement from September.

"I have not spoken to him or his camp. My understanding was that he tries to play for Jamaica so we didn't give it another thought. He was not in the mix at the moment and he is not in our thoughts for our team."

Greenwood coming on as a sub to replace Harry Kane and make his only England appearance against Iceland in September 2020 (©Reuters/John Sibley/Gallo Images)

However, for Jamaicans, Greenwood's "criminal past" isn't an obstacle, as the JFF president Michael Ricketts told The Athletic when asked whether he'd like to see Marseille forward in the yellow Reggae Boyz's jersey.

"I would think so. Because, at the onset, he seemed to have been excited at getting his documentation sorted out."

At the same time, Ricketts confirmed that the player had second thoughts about switching allegiances.

"When we sent it [the passport] to him and I asked him, he said it is a family decision for him not to make himself available right now," Ricketts admitted.

On the other hand, although Jamaica would be willing to sweep Greenwood's legal problems under the carpet and overlook them, a different issue arises, because, as the famous saying states, "it's not about the destination, but the journey."

To translate it to Greenwood's case - a player who didn't participate in the qualifiers does not deserve to join the team when the accomplishment is achieved.

The former Newcastle and current Queens Park Rangers midfielder, and Jamaica international, Isaac Hayden, supports this principle.

"I've only played for Jamaica for a year, and there was some resistance to me when I started, but I have played 12 games and everyone can see my passion and the way I play the game. I give everything on the pitch, and I wanted to be there to help Jamaica progress to the World Cup."

"They [JFF] are obsessed with names and trying to recruit more players. They want to have the best team on the pitch, but I said it to the JFF: 'If a player is not willing to commit for the last round of qualifying, unless they're injured, I do not see why they should be joining the group in March or at the end of the season if we qualify'. There is no way that should be allowed to happen."

"I've had discussions with the lads who have played for Jamaica for years. Some might end up playing eight games to qualify for the World Cup but get left out for players who come in when the job is done. I don't think it would sit well with me or any of the other players. It's not something I would want to be a part of."

"The quality of the player, his numbers, what he is producing, is of the highest level, but it comes down to principle and integrity. If players can just rock up because of a World Cup, it would make the whole thing a farce. That would say a lot about the player, and the organisation for allowing that to happen."

"My recommendation to the JFF was that any new player who wants to come in beyond the recent September window can do so for 2026 (after the World Cup play-offs and possible World Cup campaign), when it is a whole new cycle," Hayden told The Athletic.

The midfielder's Reggae Boyz teammate and Charlton Athletic centre-back, Amari'i Bell, completely agreed on the matter, speaking to the same source.

"Many of us for years have put our blood, sweat and tears into playing for the nation, with a lot of things happening in the background."

"We've had to deal with all that. It wouldn't seem fair to people who have been through that whole process and will never get another chance to play at a World Cup. It's a bit controversial."

Even the people surrounding the national team see the situation the same way, pointing out the pride of the Jamaican people and nation.

"I prefer this team lose badly than bring somebody who wasn't here to struggle to get to the World Cup," firmly declared Kathya Davis of Love 101 FM via The Athletic, while Donald Oliver, the Jamaica Observer journalist, added, "Jamaicans are full of pride. The narrative is, 'If you're not with us during the journey, do not come when we are at the destination'."

In the end, the whole case is as complex as it gets, given that neither side is 100% certain it wants to embrace the other.

One more game to go and DR Congo are favorites

Since McClaren resigned as the national team's head coach after the Reggae Boyz lost their chance to qualify directly for the World Cup, Rudolph Speid took on the role of interim manager, and he'll most likely lead Jamaica in the inter-confederational playoffs.

That mini-tournament will be played next March in Mexico, and the Caribbean team will face the minnows New Caledonia in the semi-finals (March 27), while DR Congo await a rival in the grand final.

Speid and the JFF may continue to pursue Greenwood and attempt to hire him for the upcoming actions, though it could do them more harm than good, based on the players' and public opinion.