Soca Warriors want World Cup money.
By: Matt Scott (The Guardian UK).[/size]
March 22, 2007 - Footballers in Trinidad & Tobago will launch their own players' union in London tonight in response to a succession of political controversies in the Caribbean nation.
The entire World Cup squad announced they would retire from international football after being offered only £485 for their participation in the tournament despite their belief that a multi-million-dollar sponsorship agreement had been agreed with Adidas last year.
Though they withdrew that threat, they are now preparing a court action against the Trinidad & Tobago football federation over the payments. T&T is a world football power, on account of the federation's financier, Jack Warner, the Fifa vice-president who was also re-elected as president of its continent's Concacaf confederation last week.
That election triumph came amid turmoil in his own constituency. The T&TFF had announced eight days previously that all forms of football were to be cancelled due to funding difficulties, although the situation was rescued following government intervention.
The T&T's players want to know where the Adidas money went and are calling for transparency in the federation's accounting. "It is hard to believe it when they say only eight months after playing at the highest level of world football that the federation is bankrupt," said Brent Sancho, the Gillingham and T&T defender.
The players fear that some of their number have already been blacklisted for international selection, a factor that could affect future work-permit applications to play in the UK leagues. It is felt that only through union representation can they ensure their rights are secured. With advice from English football unionist Kev Harrison, the players have organised a fundraising launch event at the Hackney Empire this evening.
