T&TFF deny match fee row.
...but FPATT unhappy with process.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) yesterday denied withholding match fees to players aligned to the Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT), or being subjected to any protest action as regards contracts for Wednesday's friendly against Guadeloupe at the Queen's Park Oval.
Team manager Dave Mohammed assured the Express that all but one of the "Soca Warriors" were paid after their goalless draw against Guadeloupe and refuted suggestions, published in another daily, that several players, including Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Jason Scotland, Collin Samuel, Marvin Oliver and Clayton Ince, refused to accept match contracts.
"Of the 20 players involved on Wednesday," said Mohammed, "19 signed (the match contracts) and were paid. Unfortunately, I was not able to get on to one player before his departure."
Mohammed refused to identify the lone Warrior he claimed was unpaid but denied that the player refused to sign a contract. He also said that the match contracts signed by the Warriors were valid only until the day of the match and not binding for the entire 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
FPATT distanced themselves from the aforementioned article which, they claimed, was based on an informal conversation between the reporter and an official.
However, the players' association expressed dissatisfaction with the manner match contracts were presented to the national squad before the friendly match and insisted that some of their members did not sign.
"FPATT understands that players were presented contracts less than 72 hours before kick off," stated the FPATT release, "which were not seen, discussed, negotiated on or approved by FPATT or its attorneys.
"It is also our understanding that players were almost forced into signing these agreements so that they could take the field to represent their country. As a result, several senior players did not sign the contracts but decided to represent their country proudly.
"We at FPATT hope that this does not signal the intention of the TTFF as FPATT has indicated that it will not be 'business as usual' going forward."
Mohammed insisted that he went over several details of the players' contract with FPATT president Shaka Hislop in the build-up to Wednesday's fixture.
"I have been in constant communication with officials from FPATT," said Mohammed, "and I made them privy to all the information in the contract, to ensure that there was a synchronisation of views and ideas."
But FPATT denied that both parties reached any agreement and is still anxious to be involved in "meaningful negotiation with the TTFF".
"FPATT has been trying and is still seeking to have meaningful discussions with the TTFF president and/or its special adviser," said the release, "on important items such as players' wages and bonuses for upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and international friendly matches, insurance coverage and the level of the coverage provided to players, ticket allocations among other issues."
