Warriors battle for million $.
By: Francis Joseph (Guardian).
The Battle by 16 members of the historic 2006 Soca Warriors team to get millions of dollars in commercial profits from the T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) began before an arbitrator in London yesterday.
Three days have been put aside by the arbitrator, Ian Mill QC, but after yesterday’s all-day session, it seems that the arbitration hearing could last longer.
Defender Brent Sancho was the only member of the Warriors team to go into the witness box and be cross-examined by attorneys representing the T&TFF.
The hearing was held at the London headquarters of the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel before arbitrator Mill and several attorneys representing the players and the T&TFF. English attorney Allan Butler and Mike Townley are appearing for the Warriors, while Trinidadian lawyers Om Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon are representing the T&TFF.
Lawyers for the Warriors presented their case during the opening session. When their case was put to the arbitrator, Sancho was called to the stand. He was later cross-examined by T&TFF’s lawyers in the presence of two other team members—goalkeepers Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack.
Hearing ended at 4.30 pm, (11.30 am TT Time) and would resume today with striker Stern John and others expected to be tested in the witness box. Both parties are bound by secrecy, according to the rules of the arbitrator. There were two arbitration hearings—the last being on February 20 at Blackstone Chambers in London.
Sixteen players are involved in the dispute—Marvin Andrews, Christopher Birchall, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Ian Cox, Cornell Glen, Hislop, Avery John, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Jack, Collin Samuel, Sancho, Aurtis Whitley, Evans Wise, and Anthony Wolfe. Whitley is not in London, having just led T&T to a 2-0 victory over Grenada on Sunday at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
The impasse started in the Port-of-Spain High Court last year, but the TTFF took the preliminary point that this matter was not suitable for litigation. The Federation asked for the matter to be stayed and to be resolved by an arbitrator. The arbitration proceedings were then filed in London on October 4, 2007.
The players are seeking 50 per cent share of the commercial profits received by the T&TFF during the Soca Warriors’ historic appearance at the World Cup Finals in Germany in 2006. The players claim there was an agreement with the T&TFF.
But the Federation is disputing the claim. The only agreement which exists, according to the T&TFF, was the one which it agreed to pay the players, and which was honoured.
The players contended that after T&T defeated Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in 2005 to qualify for the World Cup Finals, the T&TFF received US $5.6 million from the governing body, Fifa.
As a result, the players argue that there was an inevitable commercial spin, in that sponsors paid large sums of money to be associated with any of the teams reaching the finals.
Stern, Shaka, Kelvin testify in London.
By: Francis Joseph (Guardian).[/color]
Soca Warriors vs TTFF Impasse
Three of this country’s top footballers took the witness stand yesterday at an arbitration hearing in London in the million-dollar dispute between the Soca Warriors and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF).
Goalkeepers Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack, along with striker Stern John were tendered for cross-examination before arbitrator Ian Mill QC.
Their testimony followed the evidence given on Monday by defender Brent Sancho. Hislop, Jack, John, and Sancho, were among the 16 members of the Soca Warriors team that played at the FIFA 2006 World Cup and eventually took the T&TFF to court over an outstanding money dispute.
In the dispute, the players are contending that they are owed 50 percent of all commercial profits derived from the World Cup campaign in Germany in 2006.
The cross-examination of Hislop, Jack, and John lasted all day, but the details of the testimony must be kept confidential, according to the guidelines laid down by the arbitrator.
The case for the Soca Warriors was closed yesterday after the testimony of the players. But unlike normal criminal and civil cases under the English legal system, the T&TFF does not plan to call any witnesses or tender evidence on its behalf.
Neither the President (Oliver Camps) or secretary (Richard Groden) of the T&TFF, nor Jack Warner, FIFA vice-president and special advisor to the TTFF, would be called before the arbitrator.
The T&T Guardian was reliably informed that the onus is on the players, not the T&TFF to prove the case.
Today, the final day of arbitration, will see both sides making closing submissions to the arbitrator. Most will be in writing and lawyers on both sides will be expanding their cases orally. At the end of the day, the arbitrator will announce when he intends to deliver his ruling.
The hearing was held at the London headquarters of the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel before arbitrator Mill and several attorneys representing the players and the T&TFF.
English attorney Rupert Butler and Mike Townley are appearing for the Warriors, while Trinidadian lawyers Om Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon, along with Englishman William Mc Commick, are representing the T&TFF.
Sixteen players are involved in the dispute—Marvin Andrews, Christopher Birchall, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Ian Cox, Cornell Glen, Shaka Hislop, Avery John, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Kelvin Jack, Collin Samuel, Brent Sancho, Aurtis Whitley, Evans Wise, and Anthony Wolfe.
The impasse started in the Port-of-Spain High Court last year, but the T&TFF took the preliminary point that this matter was not suitable for litigation. The Federation asked for the matter to be stayed and to be resolved by an arbitrator. The arbitration proceedings were then filed in London on October 4, 2007.
The players are seeking 50 per cent share of the commercial profits received by the T&TFF during the Soca Warriors’ historic appearance at the World Cup Finals in Germany in 2006. The players claim there was an agreement with the T&TFF.
But the Federation is disputing the claim. The only agreement which exists, according to the T&TFF, was the one which it agreed to pay the players, and which was honoured.
The players contended that after Trinidad and Tobago defeated Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in 2005 to qualify for the World Cup Finals, the T&TFF received US $5.6 million from the governing body, FIFA. As a result, the players argue that there was an inevitable commercial spin, in that sponsors paid large sums of money to be associated with any of the teams reaching the finals.