Warriors available for Gold Cup.
By: Lasana Liburd (TTFF).
FPATT: FIFA won't ban players.
The Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) yesterday reiterated that their 2006 World Cup players are ready for international duty and denied that any FIFA law could stop their participation at the June CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
Kevin Harrison, an England Professional Football Association (PFA) financial adviser and adviser to FPATT, suggested that FPATT's legal advisers had sought to clarify the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's (T&TFF) concerns over the availability of their star players.
Oliver Camps, the T&TFF president, suggested that the 16 World Cup players considering legal action against the association over a bonus dispute were ineligible for selection.
"Anybody who takes their Federation to court is in violation of FIFA rules," said Camps, last Friday. "Once that threat is in the making we cannot deal with them."
Harrison, who claimed to "have rushed to the aid of the T&TFF" in this matter, disagreed with Camps' interpretation of the FIFA statutes.
"Our legal advisers have told us that this kind of industrial dispute is covered under employment laws, and therefore is not a 'sporting dispute'," said Harrison. "It is every employee's democratic right to challenge their employer if they believe an employment contract, be it written or verbal, is not adhered to.
"Obviously, it is now down to T&TFF's legal advisers to discuss this in more detail with FIFA, but it is our understanding that the barrier to selection is non-existent."
Harrison chided the T&TFF for allegedly attempting "to divide and conquer" within the squad and admitted to disputes among the World Cup players as a result. However, he conceded that both parties would have been better served if FPATT had played a role in negotiations between players and administrators.
"Disputes of this kind should be settled around a table and not in court rooms," said Harrison. "This dispute has festered because the federation needs a point of contact to deal with directly It would be wise for all Trinidad and Tobago internationals, both present and future, to recognise that their needs are best protected by negotiating future contracts through FPATT.
"This way, there is anonymity for the players and a dispute will not lead to reprisals and non-selection."
He explained that the lack of funding curtailed FPATT's growth but said the organisation was solving the problem with initiatives like the May 20 benefit match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
"We do not have access to massive TV deals as in other nations, but we have many plans in place to create income streams of our own, such as the forthcoming Funday," said Harrison. "We are in discussions with global businesses who are interested in becoming business partners of FPATT and we expect to make announcements in the coming weeks as these deals are ratified. I think it will shock some people as to the standard of these business partners.
"People fail to appreciate that, outside of Trinidad and Tobago, the national team has created a place in the hearts of the global football community, much as Cameroon achieved in the 90's. We are tapping into this rich vein of respect."
Harrison pointed out that 42 countries already had a players' union and claimed that FIFA president Sepp Blatter accepts the stabilising effect of unions and endorsed their formation in Africa to be established alongside every national league.
"You only have to look at the way such disputes are dealt with in the 42 countries that have players unions," said Harrison. "When was the last time that Brazil, Germany or England failed to select their star players over contracts?"
The British financial adviser claimed to be satisfied that Camps' stance on national selection was not based on reprisal but "stems from his duty to ensure (the) T&TFF adheres to FIFA rules".
He hopes that FPATT has helped resolve the selection issue so that all parties can focus on Gold Cup success. He expects that national coach Wim Rijsbergen would be particularly pleased to have a full roster at the CONCACAF tournament, which is the biggest competition between World Cups.
"It is important to nurture the talent of home-based players, for they are the future of Trinidad and Tobago," said Harrison. "However, it is also important to blend youth and experience and play your best available team in competitions When the nation's pride is at stake, the football community expects to see the best possible team, regardless of the relationship between players and federations.
"The fresh crop of home-based players will wish to emulate the 2006 squad in the 2010 World cup finals, however, it will require the experience of the World Cup players to get them there."
