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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #180 on: September 06, 2017, 11:16:07 AM »
Concacaf generates most of their income from the Gold cup. So it will make sense to expand it to 16.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #181 on: September 06, 2017, 11:58:39 AM »
6 teams from Concacaf will feature in 2020 Copa America.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #182 on: November 01, 2017, 06:45:18 AM »
Associate of former FIFA vice president sentenced to 15 months
By Brendan Pierson, Reuters.


A former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in a money laundering conspiracy, the second person sentenced in a U.S. investigation of bribery involving the world soccer governing body FIFA.

Costas Takkas, 60, a British citizen, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, U.S. prosecutors said. His lawyer, Gordon Mehler, said he hoped Takkas would serve only about 90 days because he was previously detained in Switzerland while awaiting extradition to the United States.

Takkas was the attaché to Jeffrey Webb, a former FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, according to prosecutors.

Webb pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and other charges in November 2015. He has not yet been sentenced.

Takkas was among more than 40 people and entities charged in a U.S. investigation of the payment of more than $200 million (150.68 million pounds) of bribes and kickbacks to soccer officials, in exchange for marketing and broadcast rights.

Prosecutors said Takkas received and transmitted millions of dollars in bribes for Webb, including for the awarding of rights to qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Takkas pleaded guilty in May. Mehler said at the time that Takkas was a “minor figure in a major case.”

Takkas’s sentencing came about a week after Hector Trujillo, a former judge from Guatemala, became the first person sentenced in the criminal case. Chen sentenced Trujillo, who was accused of taking kickbacks from a marketing company in exchange for his help securing media and marketing rights for World Cup qualifying matches, to eight months.

For background also see here.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2017, 06:58:52 AM by asylumseeker »

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #183 on: November 02, 2017, 01:16:26 AM »
Tsunami?

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #184 on: November 02, 2017, 03:14:40 AM »
US prosecutors approve sale of Webb’s Georgia mansion
By Brent Fuller, Cayman Compass.

   
American prosecutors agreed to accept cash from the sale of FIFA defendant Jeffrey Webb’s home in Loganville, Georgia, rather than seizing the property itself, according to records filed with a Brooklyn-area court Monday.

The property, which Webb bought in June 2011 for US$590,000 from a construction company that purchased the home while it was in foreclosure, was sold on June 28, 2017 for US$1.5 million, according to Rockdale County, Georgia tax records.

According to a court-approved stipulation and order signed June 27, which was made public this week, Webb’s wife, Kendra Gamble-Webb, who co-owned the property, had consented to a judicial forfeiture of the home in late 2016, about a year after Webb pleaded guilty to seven counts in a racketeering indictment filed against him in connection with the ongoing bribery scandal that rocked world football’s governing body.

As part of the guilty plea, Jeffrey Webb agreed to forfeit a total of US$6.7 million in cash assets and property, which included the Loganville home.

The district court in the Eastern District of New York made a preliminary forfeiture order for the property on Dec. 2, 2016. However, before the final forfeiture was effected, the Webbs entered a contract to sell the property, court records state.

According to the stipulation documents, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Bridget Rhode said the government would accept cash from the home’s sale in lieu of the property itself.

“Provided, however, that all proceeds of the sale of the property shall be paid directly [to] the U.S. Marshals Service at closing,” Ms. Rhode wrote, adding that government representatives would attend the closing to ensure payment is received. The U.S. Marshals were authorized to hold the funds from the sale as a substitute for the property “until further order of the court.”

Court records further indicated that US$1.43 million had been deposited into the U.S. government’s Seized Asset Deposit Fund as of June 30, 2017.

The three-story Loganville mansion formerly owned by the Webbs was valued at US$931,000 in 2015 and is located in the small town east of Atlanta, Georgia. A swimming pool was built on the property with the proceeds of bribes funneled through several international bank accounts, front companies and intermediaries, U.S. federal prosecutors have alleged.

The 9,851-square-foot home, which is listed as having six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, was one of several properties Webb owned in the state of Georgia that were potentially subject to asset forfeiture proceedings.


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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #185 on: November 13, 2017, 07:10:36 AM »
Former Spice Boy Roberts takes up
high-profile CONCACAF post
Jamaica Observer


Former Grenada international and English Premier League campaigner Jason Roberts has joined continental governing body CONCACAF as its new director of development.

In his role, the 39-year-old will be in charge of developing CONCACAF's grassroots programmes as well as streamlining the organisation's coaching education, and professional football development initiatives.

“I am honoured and excited to have been selected to lead the development department as CONCACAF continues strengthening and enhancing its support for member associations to advance the game,” Roberts said.

“Football is my passion, I see the potential as well as untapped opportunities for growth within our region. I am especially looking forward to our department working on a foundation focused on grassroots, coaching education, and programmes that raise the level of play.”

Roberts made his name as a dynamic forward in the English professional leagues, representing the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic and Portsmouth in an 18-year career.

He ended his career at Reading three years ago and has since become a respected football television pundit.

Roberts is a graduate of the UEFA MIP Executive Course and member of the FIFA Players' Status Committee.

He is one of two new additions to CONCACAF's development department as former Curacao head coach, Etienne Siliee, has also signed on as the confederation's new development manager of the Caribbean.

“As part of our ONE CONCACAF Vision, we have a focused investment in football development to transform the confederation's future,” said CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.

“Mr Roberts is the right leader to continue fulfilling our mission, while providing an integral support to our member associations efforts.

“Furthermore, Mr Siliee brings significant experience and extensive knowledge of coaching and development, which will greatly contribute to raising the quality of our sport.”

Siliee will report to Roberts who in turn will report to Chief of Football Officer Manolo Zubiria.

CONCACAF oversees football in North, Central America and the Caribbean.




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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #186 on: February 19, 2018, 04:52:17 PM »
Caribbean club football engine for growth in CONCACAF — Reid
By Sean A. Williams, Jamaica Observer


CONCACAF's Director of Caribbean football Horace Reid says the focus on strengthening club competition across the confederation is in keeping with a vital of plank to drive overall development.

“Clubs are the growth engine for football in our industry. A strong domestic and international club programme almost guarantees consistency and sustainability at a competitive level for the various national teams,” Reid told the Jamaica Observer recently.

Apart from competition, CONCACAF's broad-based approach to grow clubs includes its club licensing platform.

“CONCACAF has been working assiduously with its member associations and leagues towards strengthening the administrative and technical infrastructure of clubs across the board.

“It's indisputable that clubs with solid management and technical structure supported by proper facilities have far greater growth potential and longevity for success,” said Reid, a former general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation.

The ongoing Caribbean Club Championship — which Jamaican clubs Arnett Gardens and Portmore United are competing — is seen as a deliberate strategy of the confederation's efforts to help the development of club football in the Caribbean.

“Along with the upcoming Caribbean Shield and ongoing club licensing efforts in the Caribbean, [the Caribbean Club Championship} represent the confederation's ONE CONCACAF commitment and its efforts to support the overall development of football across the Caribbean region and in this instance utilising the club platform,” said Reid.

The respected football administrator who heads up the Kingston-based CONCACAF development office shared that this commitment extends onward from sporting progress to club development, and includes passing along expertise on hosting logistics and know-how by hosting important tournaments in Caribbean markets alongside local member associations and clubs.

“This Caribbean Club Championship, along with the Caribbean Shield, expands the number of Caribbean club teams participating in official CONCACAF championships from three previously, to 20 total.

“The Caribbean Club Championship represents the best of Caribbean club football, with fully professionalised and semi-professional leagues in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica represented,” Reid outlined.

He further noted that the Caribbean tournament holds great possibilities for regional clubs who could at least aspire to go all the way to the FIFA Club World Cup.

“This tournament is an integral part of the full CONCACAF club platform where top teams advance to the CONCACAF League and Champions League. This is the first step for these clubs towards being CONCACAF champion and representing the region at the FIFA Club World Cup, giving clubs a clear pathway to the top levels of CONCACAF and international competitions,” said Reid.

In the Jamaican experience, schools seem to be leading the way in developing players at that crucial age group, seemingly picking up the slack where clubs are lacking the capacity to fulfil this mandate.

Reid, however, argued that schools, with their best intentions, are not structured for the total development the player.

“School programmes, however well intended, are fundamentally driven towards recreation. This is quite understandable given the mandate of schools, by and large; programmes geared towards all or most sports, all being seasonal.

“Two or three months of training and competition cannot develop players into professional athletes that are able to cope on the global stage, generally speaking.

“We must not get ahead of ourselves with isolated success stories. A sustainable model of player development is through the club infrastructure, and the evidence of this is well known and documented [as] young players require 10 to 11 months per season to properly and fundamentally move their growth needle physically, technically, tactically, and mentally to become world-class professionals. Of course, this requires resources and significant investment and a great deal of perseverance,” he concluded.


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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #187 on: February 19, 2018, 05:08:21 PM »
Concacaf Targets Bahamas For Primary Schools Soccer Pilot Programme
By Brent Stubbs, Tribune 242


THE Bahamas has been selected by CONCACAF for a pilot programme to develop grass[root] soccer in the primary schools.

Bahamas Football Association technical director Gary Markham confirmed that CONCACAF will have two representatives in town to meet with the BFA, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as well as the physical education teachers to discuss their plans for the formation of the programme that will be sponsored by Scotiabank.

CONCACAF, the biggest sporting body for soccer in the region, will be represented by Andre Waugh and Jay Roberts as they discuss the avenue to introduce the sport to the primary schools in their bid to increase the participation of players from the bottom to the top.

Markham said once the meeting is concluded on Thursday [February 8], they will decide on how to proceed with the programme that should run for about 6-8 weeks at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Centre at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

"We are going into the primary schools so that we can get to the grass root and develop from the ground to the top," Markham said. "In terms of development, it's a great step in the right direction to get more people to play the sport.

"It's such an easy game, it's a cheap game, in terms of the equipment that you need," Markham stressed.

"It's important that we begin to develop the younger generation to play the game."

Once they get the programme off the ground within a month or two and they conclude with a festival, Markham said they intend to put it as a fixture on the primary schools sporting calendar in September and it will culminate with the primary schools' soccer championships.

"We believe that if we can get some more people playing the sport, we can increase the participation of the sport at every level," Markham stressed.

"But we want to start from the bottom and work our way up to the top.

"That is the reason why we are putting our emphasis on this grass root programme. We believe that we can get a lot of the schools to get involved and that is why we are having the meeting with the physical education teachers and the Ministry of Education."

Joining the BFA and CONCACAF executives at the meeting in the boardroom of the Ministry of Education on Thursday will be Dawn Knowles, the Ministry's sports director for Primary Schools, along with at least one PE teacher from the various schools.

Markham said a representative from Scotiabank is also expected to be in attendance as they explain their involvement in the programme.

Markham said that Scotiabank is making a significant financial contribution to the pilot programme.

Based on the success of the programme here, Markham said CONCACAF is hoping that they can take the model to other countries in the region where they hope to see an increase in the participation of players in the grass soccer arena.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #188 on: February 26, 2018, 11:27:29 AM »
CONCACAF expands Gold Cup to 16 teams, explores multi-nation hosting setup
By Charles Boehm MLSsoccer.com



https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/26/concacaf-expands-gold-cup-16-teams-explores-multi-nation-hosting-setup

Significant changes are coming to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

CONCACAF announced on Monday that the regional championship tournament will expand to 16 teams starting in 2019, its next edition. The confederation also revealed that it is “exploring a pan-regional footprint” for next year’s event, meaning that matches could be played in Central America and the Caribbean, which in CONCACAF’s words would “fulfill a long-term aspiration” for member nations in those regions.

The qualifying process for the expanded Gold Cup will be revealed at the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League launch event on March 7 in Miami Beach, Florida, while the process and criteria for host sites will be outlined by CONCACAF “in the coming months.”

“The expansion of the Gold Cup and the upcoming launch of the CONCACAF Nations League are key steps in delivering on the ONE CONCACAF Vision, to make the region’s most competitive football more accessible to more of our confederation’s teams, players and fans,” said CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani in a press release.

“By widening access to these important tournaments for more of our member associations, we work towards our goal of ensuring that the football produced in the CONCACAF region is of the highest quality in the world.”

Since the tournament was first played in 1992, the lion’s share of Gold Cup action has taken place in the United States apart from matches held in Mexico in 1993 and 2003 and in Canada in 2015. The US national team are the current reigning champions.
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

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Flow Sports nets CONCACAF rights deal
« Reply #189 on: February 26, 2018, 06:23:34 PM »
Flow Sports nets CONCACAF rights deal
sportbusiness.com


The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) has agreed a wide-ranging multi-year rights deal with Caribbean pay-television broadcaster Flow Sports.

At the core of the deal, the pan-Caribbean broadcaster has secured English-language rights across its footprint for the upcoming editions of club championships the Champions League, Concacaf League, and the newly-launched Caribbean Club Championship.

Flow, which is owned by British telco Cable & Wireless, has also secured title sponsorship rights to the Caribbean Club Championship. Concacaf’s two new Caribbean club competitions – the Flow Caribbean Club Championship and the accompanying Caribbean Club Shield – will feature 20 clubs from 16 Caribbean member associations.

The competitions will be divided in two tiers, the Championship for fully professional clubs, and the Shield for clubs from Caribbean leagues still working towards fully-licensed, professional status.

Together, the new regional qualifying championships will serve as the Caribbean qualifying tournament for the Concacaf League and the Champions League, and aims to secure wider participation of Caribbean clubs in confederation championships.

The agreement also includes other Concacaf tournaments during the term of the deal. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The integration of our regional assets and platforms to benefit all of the Confederation is a key pillar of our One Concacaf Vision,” Concacaf president Victor Montagliani (pictured) said. “This partnership with Flow Sports – both in terms of the expanded broadcasts of Concacaf tournaments to the Caribbean and the support for the new, expanded Caribbean Club Championship – is the result of our collective efforts and additional fuel for the growth of the game in the region.”

The agreement with Flow Sports includes the following Caribbean territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.
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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #190 on: March 03, 2018, 09:53:11 AM »
Decio de María, president of the Mexican federation has submitted his resignation. It will take effect after the Russia 2018 World Cup. He will be replaced by Yon de Luisa, VP of Sports at Televisa and the person at the helm of Mexico's joint 2026 WC bid.

Also of note, LigaMX, Mexico's top professional division, has decided to suspend relegation effective 2018-19. The suspension will be in effect for two years. League decision-makers want the league to grow from 18 to 20 teams.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2018, 09:55:02 AM by asylumseeker »

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #191 on: March 12, 2018, 08:16:08 AM »
CONCACAF Nations League a big deal, say 'small' members
By San A Williams, Jamaica Observer.


Caribbean bosses from the smaller territories were in football nirvana as the overarching body CONCACAF announced landmark changes to its competition and qualifying structure with a new tournament here on Wednesday.

At a dazzling launch event at The Temple House in Miami Beach, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, in an overpowering air of pomp and pageantry, unveiled the confederation-wide CONCACAF Nations League.

In the hour-and-half-long red carpet event, details of structure and format, in addition to a draw to determine matchups in the qualifying phase set to kick off in September, were presented to stakeholders and guests with the frills of Hollywood awards show production.

Theatrics aside, the full schedule of the first stage of the game-changing tournament was determined and will be played in the FIFA calendar windows of September, October, November of 2018 and that of March 2019.

President of the Grenada Football Association Cheney Joseph said while his country stands to benefit from the new tournament, he was concerned that the proverbial dice did not necessarily roll in his favour.

“I wished we were considered higher up in the ranking as I don't think it was the best draw one could have wanted… as you know we are a passionate people in Grenada and would probably would have preferred to have Curacao at home than French St Martin, but we cannot take them for granted because they have access to players in Europe.

“We are away to Curacao, then we go home for Cuba, then home to French St Martin and then away to Puerto Rico, and it's not easy in my opinion.

“That said, I think we have the quality to gain maximum points in all of those games, but what it says is that we have our work cut out for us so all we have to do now is start preparing,” he said.

Joseph thinks CONCACAF is on the ball with the new competition, which is viewed for its development and competition value, especially for the smaller territories of the 31-member Caribbean.

“I must congratulate CONCACAF in what I think was a remarkable launch and I must also credit it them for the new logo… I think for small islands this is a big opportunity because now the young players can dream of playing against somebody, so it's all good,” Joseph noted.

Meanwhile, another considered minnow of CONCACAF football Puerto Rico welcomed the new developments as the confederation rebrands and repositions itself to meet the challenges of the changing face of global football.

“We are very satisfied with the draw and we are happy that CONCACAF has come up with the Nations League, which will give us in the Caribbean the opportunity to have more games in the four cycles (FIFA calendar window), and this is going to be very good for the development of football in our region,” said Puerto Rico Football Federation president Eric Labrador.

Puerto Rico will face St Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, Belize and Grenada in the qualifying stage.

St Kitts and Nevis Football Association boss Anthony Johnson shares the view that the returns to smaller members, like that of his country, will see a new dawning in respect of their development potential.

“It is extremely important, as the complaint for a long time is that we (smaller Caribbean territories) have not been playing enough. So it is an excellent idea to utilise the FIFA dates to play among the CONCACAF countries and that is one way we will see increased development and exposure,” he expressed.

Johnson was happy with the hand the draw dealt his association.

“We are very satisfied as we have both Puerto Rico and Canada at home in St Kitts and then we travel to Suriname and French St Martin, so it was a competitive draw and we expect to be fully prepared for the tournament and we expect good results,” he said.

The Kittian noted that already excitement is building in his country at the prospect of hosting high-quality competitive matches on a more consistent basis, a rarity in the past.

“I know that the public is excited and they will become more aware about the details in the coming days, and I think the excitement will increase given particularly the countries we will be playing against on home soil.

“I expect the public to come and support us… we have already confirmed a game against the Dominican Republic on the 25th of March and we are in discussion with a number of other countries, and we expect an announcement very shortly on a game on home soil in April — and we hope that will be against one of the top countries in the region,” Johnson ended.

Meanwhile, CONCACAF's Director of development Jason Roberts was beside himself with excitement as the former Grenadian international wrapped his head around the possibilities for the Caribbean region in particular.

“I am hugely excited about this Nations League as this is a platform which allows us to have more games and more elite competition.

“I think if you look at the traditional cycle, how many games were played by teams like Grenada and Jamaica, I think it is important to increase that number and I think that is what we have here with this particular platform. And from a development standpoint, I think we will see more (positive) outcomes as a result of this new league,” said the former English Premier League campaigner, who capped a rich career of 154 goals in 501 appearances.

The CONCACAF Nations League, which will be a direct qualifier for the marquee Gold Cup, will be a three-tier promotion and demotion competition to be contested by all 41 member associations.

The qualifying phase will determine which of the three leagues — A, B and C — will fall. The six nations — Mexico, USA, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago — who contested the Hexagonal round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers have received byes to League A and await other qualifiers to complete its make-up.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #192 on: March 14, 2018, 09:15:20 AM »
Webb loses appeal against FIFA fine
Cayman News Service


FIFA has rejected an appeal by former VP Jeffrey Webb against a fine imposed on him for his part in the massive corruption scandal. In addition to the millions of dollars he has handed over to the US authorities for his convictions in relation to the bribery investigation, Webb faces a fine in excess of US$1 million by his former employers. Webb has not contested the lifetime ban from the game imposed on him after he was convicted of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. However, he did challenge the fine.

In a release from FIFA, officials said the appeals committee determined that the fine imposed was “adequate”. The statement continued, “Consequently, Mr Webb’s fine and lifelong ban are maintained.”

FIFA has also claimed some $2 million from the US authorities in restitution for Webb’s part in the corruption.

Webb was the president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, enjoying a glittering career in international football administration, when he was swept up in the massive US case against FIFA officials and sports firm executives relating to bribery and corruption around the world.

He has since pleaded guilty, but almost three years after his high-profile arrest in Switzerland at a luxury hotel during a FIFA meeting, he has still not been sentenced and remains on bail in the United States with a sentencing hearing set for September at a Brooklyn court after numerous adjournments.

However, since his conviction, Webb has handed over $6.7 million to the US authorities.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #193 on: April 15, 2018, 01:44:17 AM »
CONCACAF’s push to professionalise clubs.
By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).


While the T&T Pro League tries to come up with a suitable date to commence its 2018 season and while also working on a formula to make the league more attractive and sustainable, Concacaf has embarked on a campaign to raise the standard of clubs in the region through a series of workshops and competitions.

At the moment I am in Santiago, Dominican Republic charged with the responsibility to manage media operations and generate content to promote the inaugural Concacaf Caribbean Shield which comprises of eleven clubs from eleven countries over a two-week period. This tournament forms the base of the Concacaf club competition platform, featuring clubs which are working with Concacaf’s Development Department towards a long-term vision to professionalise the club game across the region.

The participating clubs represent Member Associations with up-and-coming leagues, working their way towards full professional standards, following the Concacaf league professionalisation roadmap. Concacaf’s wide-ranging club licensing and league development programs are designed to raise the level of the club game throughout the region, creating more access and opportunity for development of players and officials, and resulting in further growth and an improved level of competition throughout the Concacaf club competitions platform.

Endorsing the tournament along with two Concacaf workshops hosted for member association this weekend in Santiago was Concacaf Director of Development, former Grenada English-based pro Jason Roberts.

The two workshops running simultaneously of which I've had the privilege of attending at the Hodelpa Garden Court hotel focuses on League Development and Club Licensing. This tied in with the Caribbean Shield is all aimed at ensuring a lasting and meaningful impact in the Caribbean.

T&T still maintains a high status in the region with the existence of its Pro League with many players from some of the islands aspiring to join local clubs in T&T but the T&T Super League is also being mentioned as an attraction as well, with leagues in places such as Barbados, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Curacao, Aruba and many others trying to pattern their league football similar to that of countries like T&T and Jamaica.

Here in Santiago is former W Connection and Caledonia AIA player George Isaac of St Kitts/Nevis, currently head coach of Kittitian club Cayon Rockets which is competing in the Concacaf Caribbean Shield. He appreciates the effort towards helping teams become more professionalised, having played in the T&T Pro League and getting a feel of playing in the Concacaf Champions Cup back in 2002/2003.

"I think the Concacaf Caribbean Shield presents an deal opportunity for us to continue our development and push ourselves even further towards becoming a fully professional team. Every player in the Caribbean dreams about playing at a high level or in a proper Concacaf tournament and we are getting that opportunity with the Caribbean Shield," Isaac said. “I have tasted Pro League football in Trinidad and Tobago and I think it’s a great opportunity for players from St Kitts and other islands to have a similar experience which can in turn strengthen their national teams and football on a whole in the Caribbean.”

Concacaf 's vision is clear and it is important that while nations compete on the field, their remains a collective drive towards establishing better levels in every aspect of the game. As part of the commitment to establish a fully integrated Confederation, Concacaf is investing in administration, competitions and development programs throughout North America, Central America and the Caribbean in order to further grow the sport and empower its 41 member nations. The organization is expanding resources across the region to work closely on initiatives that raise the game’s level, while increasing opportunities for players, coaches, and administrators. Professional football is being seen as the way to go and in T&T it should no doubt be seen as here to stay.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #194 on: April 15, 2018, 02:55:29 PM »
Associate of former FIFA vice president sentenced to 15 months
By Brendan Pierson, Reuters.


A former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in a money laundering conspiracy, the second person sentenced in a U.S. investigation of bribery involving the world soccer governing body FIFA.

Costas Takkas, 60, a British citizen, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, U.S. prosecutors said. His lawyer, Gordon Mehler, said he hoped Takkas would serve only about 90 days because he was previously detained in Switzerland while awaiting extradition to the United States.

Takkas was the attaché to Jeffrey Webb, a former FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, according to prosecutors.

Webb pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and other charges in November 2015. He has not yet been sentenced.

Takkas was among more than 40 people and entities charged in a U.S. investigation of the payment of more than $200 million (150.68 million pounds) of bribes and kickbacks to soccer officials, in exchange for marketing and broadcast rights.

Prosecutors said Takkas received and transmitted millions of dollars in bribes for Webb, including for the awarding of rights to qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Takkas pleaded guilty in May. Mehler said at the time that Takkas was a “minor figure in a major case.”

Takkas’s sentencing came about a week after Hector Trujillo, a former judge from Guatemala, became the first person sentenced in the criminal case. Chen sentenced Trujillo, who was accused of taking kickbacks from a marketing company in exchange for his help securing media and marketing rights for World Cup qualifying matches, to eight months.

For background also see here.
so everybody forget bout the Teflon Master

and what about the fella(sorry, fellas) with the money in the back seat..water under the bridge ?
« Last Edit: April 15, 2018, 03:16:26 PM by maxg »

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #195 on: June 05, 2018, 03:55:46 PM »
15-year penalty
By Rachelle Agard, The Nation


The footballer who threw stones and a beer bottle during a domestic match at the Wildey Turf nine days ago has been slapped with a 15-year ban by the Barbados Football Association (BFA).

University of the West Indies (UWI) Blackbirds striker Corey “Santa” Barrow was hit with the penalty after he, as a spectator, attacked Abrahams United Silver Sands’ goalkeeper Jamal Moore in a Premier League match on May 27.

Following an emergency meeting of the BFA’s executive board last week, the 34-year-old Barrow was slapped with the ban, which would see him prohibited from all football-related activities until he turned 49.

When contacted yesterday, BFA president Randy Harris said they were sending a clear message to players, and hoped the incident would act as a deterrent for any persons who would want to attempt such behaviour at football.

Clear message

“We did our investigations and the board came up with the punishment, which we thought was fitting for the way the incident unfolded. We are sending a clear message as to how we view this type of behaviour at the facility. It’s the only facility we have available at the moment, and we have to ensure that the players and patrons attending football are safe. It is unfortunate, but we had to take decisive action,” he told NATIONSPORT.

“When we improved the facility up here, we set up a perimeter fence to prevent this type of incident from happening. However, the culprit breached the security and scaled the fence, which we thought was unbecoming of a registered player of the BFA.”

According to reports, Barrow, who was present during the nightcap game between Paradise and Silver Sands, got into an argument with Moore. Barrow then hurled a beer bottle at Moore who was on the field during play.

An enraged Barrow subsequently jumped the fence and went onto the restricted area, armed with two rocks and threw them at the goalkeeper. While one missed, the other struck Moore on a hand and a fight ensued, bringing the game to a halt after police and players had to part the two men. A clip of the alter-cation has since gone viral on all social media platforms.

Placed on bond

The 34-year-old Clapham, St Michael resident saw himself hauled in front the District “A” Magistrates’ Court last week Monday, before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant, who placed the first-time offender on a six-month bond to keep the peace. If breached, he would be fined $750 forthwith or spend six weeks in prison.

The BFA has been on a drive to eradicate all forms of violence throughout football, with the introduction of their Stop The Violence campaign, which was introduced in 2016.

Head coach of UWI’s Academy of Sport, Roland Butcher, said he was out of the island, and unaware of the BFA’s decision.

“I presume there are appeals to deal with this type of thing, so I will deal with the matter when I return next week,” he said.

Barrow is also coach of Pro Shottas Soccer School and president Greg Castagne said the executive of the school were looking further into the matter to determine the way forward.

“We are in correspondence with the BFA, and it is a matter still to be concluded. We are looking into the matter a bit further, before we make a final decision. Prior to the BFA making their decision, we had suspended [Barrow] for four weeks,” he said, adding that he would “have a better idea later this week”.


Beaten and bruised
By Morissa Lindsay, Barbados Today


On the stroke of regular time, the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League match between Paradise and Abrahams United Silver Sands came to a brutal conclusion last night at the Wildey, St Michael AstroTurf.

As Paradise were on their way to register a well-deserved 6-0 victory with a minute left to play in the third and final encounter, a spectator emerged from the Kent/Upton side of the playing field and unleashed two large stones at Silver Sands’ custodian Jamal Moore.

It was later revealed that the spectator was in fact University of the West Indies’ striker Corey ‘Santa’ Barrow who was subsequently arrested and later charged by police officers present during the game.

It is alleged that Barrow said something to the Silver Sands goalkeeper from the stands and Moore responded to Barrow. That response then apparently led to the UWI player leaving his seat, jumping over the fence and onto the turf to confront Moore who was then struck by the stones thrown at him.

When contacted, Barbados Football Association president Randolph Harris told Barbados TODAY Barrow had been suspended from playing all forms of football.

He said: “I am awaiting a report from the police because I did not actually witness the incident but the BFA will suspend Corey Barrow from all activity regarding football. The board [BFA] will meet and we will make an official decision on the matter.”

Over the years violence has plagued local football. The BFA has responded to this with a Stop The Violence campaign but several incidents suggest the message of the initiative has been falling on deaf ears.

Just as recent as last year two players were left nursing gunshot wounds during a Reserved League match between Weymouth Wales and Belfield Football Club which the BFA president narrowed down to a societal problem at that point in time.

In addition, four years ago, the BFA’s disciplinary committee banned the Adamson brothers, Diquan and Rushan, along with Andre Daniel, a former national defender for two years, after the three Gall Hill players were found guilty of violent conduct. Now it seems Barrow could be facing that same fate or worse following last night’s unfortunate incident in the full view of football patrons.

Before that situation transpired things were going well in favour of Paradise who buried two early goals in the fifth and seventh minutes respectively compliments Chai Lloyd along with leading forward Armando ‘Suga’ Lashley who ended with a hat-trick.

The men from Dover then went on to score four more goals and three of those came just before half time. National midfielder Ackeel Applewhaite nailed a brace in the 20th and 71st time periods. Meanwhile Lashley registered two more goals in the 31st and 41st minutes to be adjudged Man of the Match sponsored by Turbo and worth BDS$100.

Coached by Kenville Layne, Paradise have moved up from third place into second position after adding three points to their initial total of 16 before the start of the night cap game. They are now on 19 points and ahead of Clayton’s Kola Tonic Notre Dame who have drifted into fourth place and tied on 18 points with Brittons Hill who edged the Bayland men 1-0 in the opening fixture yesterday evening.

In the eighth minute Denzil Fordyce scored the lone goal that not only led Brittons Hill to victory, but ensured they are now sitting in third place with a 3-2 goal difference ahead of Notre Dame.

Meanwhile former three-time champions Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme made light work of Porey Springs with a 4-1 win to continue their dominance at the top of zone two with 30 points. National midfielder Akeem Hill along with Omani Leacock both scored a brace each starting with Hill in the 29th and 76th minutes and Leacock in the 37th and 67th respectively.

« Last Edit: June 05, 2018, 04:23:31 PM by asylumseeker »

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #196 on: June 05, 2018, 03:57:24 PM »
Trinidad & Tobago, what is the final disposition of the La Brea incident?
« Last Edit: June 05, 2018, 03:59:09 PM by asylumseeker »

Offline Deeks

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #197 on: June 05, 2018, 07:08:31 PM »
Probably still investigating. This was not a TTFA match. Minor league game. But still, we hope the TTPS doing their diligent investigating to prosecute those hooligans.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #198 on: June 05, 2018, 10:05:44 PM »
De bottlethrower is a "silent rivers run deep" kinda bredda. Ah was on a course with him. Cool youth on de surface. Will smile and laugh somewhere between readily and with cynicism, but I could see this playing out in some form. Not a hothead but if yuh know de markers of de Bajan brand of ignorance, yuh would know de fella could get heated on a slow fire.

De BFA's stance is more stringent than that of the court. Lehwe see how things play out.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2018, 10:08:48 PM by asylumseeker »

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #199 on: June 05, 2018, 11:31:13 PM »
Quote
Before that situation transpired things were going well in favour of Paradise who buried two early goals in the fifth and seventh minutes respectively compliments Chai Lloyd along with leading forward Armando ‘Suga’ Lashley who ended with a hat-trick.

The men from Dover then went on to score four more goals and three of those came just before half time. National midfielder Ackeel Applewhaite nailed a brace in the 20th and 71st time periods. Meanwhile Lashley registered two more goals in the 31st and 41st minutes to be adjudged Man of the Match sponsored by Turbo and worth BDS$100

AA is a player who went on trial at Jabloteh last year, but who bolted for Antigua rather than tough it out in T&T. Also had some experience in the UK, where he was said to have been offered schoolboy terms by Barnet.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #200 on: June 06, 2018, 05:10:27 AM »
Probably still investigating. This was not a TTFA match. Minor league game. But still, we hope the TTPS doing their diligent investigating to prosecute those hooligans.

There have been many instances of national team and pro league players participating in unsanctioned minor league competitions. The TTFA and national team coaches have asserted positions on that participation. What would be a responsible federation position should one of those players act in fury in minor league competition? A throwing of hands in the air and say it wasn't our fete?

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #201 on: June 11, 2018, 06:32:07 PM »
CONCACAF Focuses on Inclusive Growth Through Competitions Expansion
Around the Rings


The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) held today its 33rd Ordinary Congress in Moscow Russia, where delegates celebrated the accomplishments of the Confederation in 2017.

“Following the completion of a successful governance reform effort over the last two years, our Confederation has forged a new era. Working together as a family we have delivered on our One Concacaf Vision to continue expanding and producing tangible benefits to our game,” said Concacaf President Victor Montagliani. “This is an era of resounding commitment to serving our Member Associations and increased investment in development and broader, more inclusive competitions.”

The Congress approved the 2017 Concacaf Council Report; as well as the 2017 audited financial statements and the 2018 budget. As part of the commitment to continue ensuring the integrity and transparency of the organization, and to comply with governance standards, the Confederation made public its Congress Book, including the financial statements and the 2018 budget, which is available here.

In other events occurring at the Congress, Randolph Harris from Barbados was elected as Vice President of the Concacaf Council. Mr. Harris ran unopposed for the position.

Concacaf also presented the General Secretariat Report on the full year achievements as a result of an efficient organizational structure consisting of the Confederation’s functional areas -- Football Operations, Commercial, Member Associations, Finance and Administration, and Legal and Compliance.

The governing body announced the increase of its One Concacaf Funding Program by more than 35 percent for the 2018 edition of the program, continuing the commitment to invest directly in growing its Member Associations as enablers of the game’s success.

2017 marked a defining moment on the evolution of Concacaf’s competitions. On the clubs tournaments front, the Confederation launched the new single elimination Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League and Scotiabank Concacaf League formats, while redesigning the Caribbean Championships. On the national teams’ front, Concacaf also announced a newly expanded format for its premier competition, the Gold Cup. From 2019 onwards, the Gold Cup will include 16 teams and a pan-regional footprint with the upcoming selection of additional venues in the Caribbean and Central America.

Earlier this year, the Confederation unveiled the Concacaf Nations League, an innovative and inclusive national team competition set to kick off this September, bringing meaningful sustainable national team football for all the Member Associations.

The Concacaf Nations League is an on-the-field extension of Concacaf’s new image and brand architecture, which was also recently announced, framing the Confederation’s efforts around the core One Concacaf Vision of developing and stewarding the game on the pillars of Unity, Access, Football and Quality. In that spirit, the Nations League will provide greatly expanded access for Concacaf’s Member Associations to international football, enhancing the development of football across the region at all levels.

The annual meeting was attended by Concacaf Member Associations delegates. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CONMEBOL President, Alejandro Dominguez, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, members of the Russian Football Union and the Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. Also present at the event were Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Liga MX President Enrique Bonilla, as well as Concacaf strategic partners.

Offline soccerman

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #202 on: June 13, 2018, 05:24:04 AM »
USA, Canada and Mexico won the bid to host the 2026 WC...hopefully Trump don't f**k up the relations anymore and T&T has their house in order to actually qualify!

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #203 on: June 13, 2018, 05:31:55 AM »
USA, Canada and Mexico won the bid to host the 2026 WC...hopefully Trump don't f**k up the relations anymore and T&T has their house in order to actually qualify!

what does this mean for the amount of qualifiers from this area?

Offline real madness

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #204 on: June 13, 2018, 07:08:14 AM »
USA, Canada and Mexico won the bid to host the 2026 WC...hopefully Trump don't f**k up the relations anymore and T&T has their house in order to actually qualify!

what does this mean for the amount of qualifiers from this area?

2026 will be 48 team world cup with 6.5 spots for Concacaf. So qualifiers will have 3.5 spots up for grabs.  If we can't make it we need to focus on netball.  First step is to get rid of DJW.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #205 on: June 13, 2018, 09:27:12 AM »
Description of the playoff format:

The proposal is that a nation from every confederation, except Uefa, will play-off in a knockout tournament that doubles up as a test event for the host nation. The five teams will be joined by an additional country from the host nations’ confederation – Concacaf. Two seeded teams will each meet the winners of a match between two unseeded teams to determine the final places.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #206 on: June 13, 2018, 11:26:04 AM »
As of right now the co-hosts for 2026 do not have an automatic spot.
That supposed to be decided at the June 2019 FIFA Congress.

Realistically with 6 spots nobody should need an automatic spot. Maybe just the US because of the number of games there but if you can’t make a CONCACAF top 6 what you going World Cup to do?

I could see Canada hosting and watching from the outside  :D

Offline Deeks

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #207 on: June 13, 2018, 02:35:59 PM »
That will be real shitty.

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #208 on: June 13, 2018, 04:23:52 PM »
June 2019 FIFA Congress maybe they can reconstruct the Concacaf region whereby the Caribbean can have two teams. Then and only then we'll know.
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Offline soccerman

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Re: CONCACAF News Thread
« Reply #209 on: June 14, 2018, 05:24:23 AM »
Some US analysts were speaking like all 3 countries have guaranteed spots. If that's the case, it will be a real dog fight. Let's get a proper technical director and focus on U18, U16, U14 and even U12 teams starting this year.

 

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