Warner, Nakhid bury the hatchet.
By: Francis Joseph (Guardian).[/size]
Former national football captain David Nakhid has discontinued his defamation case against FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, the T&T Football Federation (TTFF), and its media officer Shaun Fuentes.
Nakhid’s attorney Farid Scoon filed the notice of discontinuance, dated June 13, in the Port-of-Spain High Court, ending a two-year battle in which he was claiming damages for defamation. He also sued a daily newspaper for libel and was awarded an undisclosed sum in an out-of-court settlement.
Nakhid could not be reached for comment yesterday, while Warner was tied up in meetings at Rienzi Complex, Couva. Attorneys Om Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon represented Warner and the TTFF.
Nakhid filed the writ in the High Court on June 6, 2006, claiming damages against Warner, the TTFF, Fuentes and the daily newspaper.
Nakhid, who led T&T to a semi-final berth in the 2000 Gold Cup, claimed that on October 24, 2005, Warner falsely and maliciously uttered certain words, causing the TTFF to issue a media release, which was written by Fuentes.
According to Nakhid, the words from Warner were understood to mean that he was a traitor, who for monetary gain, had committed an act of treachery against T&T, or against the people of T&T, or against the interests of T&T.
Nakhid also took offence to another part of the TTFF media release. He said the words printed were understood to mean that he, through his agent, a female acquaintance, attempted to obtain, without the necessary permission or licences of the TTFF, tapes or television or video broadcast images of the matches played by T&T national senior team.
In his writ, Nakhid pointed out that since the publication of the media release, he had been humiliated by verbal abuse when out in the public, and humiliated and vilified over talk shows on radio throughout the country.
He said his family had been taunted and insulted and had suffered emotional hurt, anxiety and embarrassment. He had claimed additional damages for repetition of the defamatory sting of the press release and article, which had been caused by what Warner had stated.
Nakhid said Warner’s words were meant to disparage him in his position and status as a professional footballer and his international reputation.
In his defence, Warner admitted making the statement when he was attending a meeting of the FIFA executive in Zurich, Switzerland. He said the statement was made in his personal capacity and not for, or on behalf of the TTFF.
Warner said the words were an expression of fair comment and made without malice. He said at the time, T&T was locked in heated battle to qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. At a time when T&T was ready to play Bahrain for the final spot for Germany, it was reported in the Bahrain Tribune that Nakhid was offered a position by that country’s coach to assist that country in the upcoming two matches against T&T.
Warner said Nakhid denied the newspaper story at a press conference at the Trinidad Hilton on October 31, 2005. The FIFA vice-president stated in his defence that Nakhid never called for an apology from the Bahrain media.
