The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) has been ordered to pay more than $4 million as a second interim payment to 13 players who represented this country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Justice Devindra Rampersad, presiding in the Port of Spain High Court yesterday, ruled that the interim payment of $4.36 million be paid to the footballers by next week Tuesday. The payment also includes costs.
The judge further ordered that former FIFA vice-oresident and TTFF special advisor Jack Warner file an affavadit by October 17, stating why he should not be joined as a third defendant in the matter.
Rampersad said he will deliver his ruling on December 6 on whether Warner should be a third defendant in the matter.
It was only last week that TTFF president Oliver Camps appeared in court.
Attorneys seeking the interest of the national footballers had sought to file an application, for Camps to be held in contempt of court for allegedly submitting false documents as it pertains to the auditing of the TTFF accounts.
Earlier this year, the TTFF was ordered to pay more than $7 million as an interim payment to the footballers, based upon a promise by Warner to share all profits from T&T qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
Attorneys Om Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon are appearing on behalf of the TTFF, while attorneys Michael Townley, Dave DePeiza and George Hislop are seeking the interest of the footballers.
Initially, there were 16 players contesting the suit against the TTFF. However, three of the players–Marvin Andrews,Chris Birchall and Ian Cox–withdrew from the matter.
The remaining players who continued their action against the TTFF and by extension Camps are Brent Sancho, Shaka Hislop, Kelvin Jack, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Avery John, Aurtis Whitley, Collin Samuel, Evans Wise, Anthony Wolfe, Cornell Glen, Kenwyne Jones and Stern John.
Last year, the TTFF had appealed Rampersad's July 29 order requesting the Federation honours its bonus agreement with the players. This was dismissed by the Appeal Court.
The genesis of events started when court proceedings were filed in November 2008, at the Port of Spain High Court, where the 16 players demanded the High Court enforce the judgement of the London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP).
The SDRP had ruled in May 2008 that under the terms of a contract--agreed by FIFA Executive Committee member Warner–the Soca Warriors were owed 50 per cent of all 2006 World Cup commercial revenue.
However, the TTFF claimed that a breach of confidentiality by the players meant the Federation was no longer obligated by the agreement.
Following weeks of arguments, Rampersad ruled in favour of the players.
Judge orders TTFF: Pay $4.2M to ‘World Cup Warriors’
By Stephon Nicholas (Newsday).
The TTFF was yesterday ordered by Justice Devindra Rampersad to pay an interim sum of approximately $4.2 million by next Tuesday to 13 members of the 2006 team.
It was the second order by the judge for the TTFF to pay following an initial $7.5 million payment earlier this year.
The players who will be benefitting are Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Cornell Glen, Shaka Hislop, Avery John, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Kelvin Jack, Collin Samuel, Brent Sancho, Aurtis Whitley, Evans Wise and Anthony Wolfe.
Rampersad made the declaration for the $4.2 million yesterday at the Port-of-Spain High Court despite protests from attorney Dereck Balliram representing the TTFF.
Balliram requested 60 days to pay the sum but it was denied as the judge ratified the pleas of the claimants that five years have elapsed and “a sense of urgency has to be imparted”.
Rampersad lamented, however, that the larger issue of the actual revenue earned for the 2006 World Cup campaign remains unresolved.
He admitted that he remains unaware of the state of the TTFF accounts and was “operating in a vacuum”. The “Soca Warriors”’ lawyers chastised the TTFF for their request for more time, noting that they are aware of over $160 million paid to the local football body so they found the need for 60 days to pay just over $4 million “overwhelming and can’t understand it all”.
Meanwhile, Balliram, also instructed to act on behalf of former TTFF Special Advisor, Jack Warner, objected to the application that Warner be made a third defendant in the matter.
The claimants had earlier requested Warner be made an official part of the matter as TTFF president Oliver Camps implied in an affidavit that the ex-FIFA vice-president could make clearer the accounts of the TTFF which are yet to be established.
Rampersad yesterday asked TTFF and Warner to make submissions for their objection to Warner being made a third defendant (after the TTFF and Camps) by November 4 while the footballers were given by November 30 to make their response.
The footballers are eager to determine who was in charge of the TTFF accounts and who can give an accurate depiction of what was the exact figure generated from commercial revenue for the World Cup campaign so the funds could be shared.
There will be a hearing on November 30 for the statement of costs of which there were no objections while all other remaining issues were adjourned to December 8.
The players were represented by George Hislop, Dave De Peiza and Phillip Lamont.