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Offline royal

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #540 on: July 07, 2020, 06:41:19 PM »
I guess no light guys, mediation talks are of.   

Offline sjahrain

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #541 on: July 08, 2020, 02:53:37 AM »
The wind of disenchantment just blew out my candle

Offline Tallman

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FIFA blanks mediation with United TTFA
« Reply #542 on: July 08, 2020, 04:14:15 PM »
FIFA blanks mediation with United TTFA
T&T Guardian


Four days after T&T Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he was willing to talk to FIFA, to assist in the impasse involving the world governing body for football - FIFA and T&T Football Association (TTFA), FIFA has responded to the ongoing court matter which the TTFA has lodged in the local courts.

According to the release on Tuesday from Zurich, Switzerland: "FIFA does not, and will never, accept the jurisdiction of a local court in T&T to decide on the legality of the appointment of the Normalisation Committee currently appointed to run football in the territory.

"For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA only recognises the authority and jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in these matters. Any dispute regarding the appointment of a Normalisation Committee falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the CAS, and CAS alone.

"United TTFA" itself previously went to CAS and then unilaterally withdrew from the CAS process.

"For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the mediation, FIFA previously agreed to with "United TTFA", would never have dealt with the legality of the appointment of the Normalisation Committee and would only have covered some costs related issues. This mediation will not go ahead now in any event, owing to the failure of the lawyers of "United TTFA" to keep the matter confidential, in line with their professional and ethical obligations."

FIFA's release yesterday makes it clear that the promised mediation, which was agreed to between parties, has been withdrawn because of a breach of confidentiality by the United TTFA lawyers who have made the agreement public via the media.

The media report stated that FIFA agreed on Monday, to settle its dispute with the former TTFA executive led by ousted president William Wallace and his three vice presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip, out of court.

On May 18, the United TTFA team of Wallace, Taylor, Joseph-Warrick, Phillip, former technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy and North Zone Football president Anthony Harford, moved their appeal of FIFA’s decision to remove the elected executive from office on March 17, and challenge the matter in the T&T High court.

On March 27, FIFA implemented a Normalisation Committee with businessman Robert Hadad as chairman and attorney Judy Daniel and former banker Nigel Romano to run and manage the affairs of the local sports.

On Monday, following the Prime Minister offer to help in the impasse, former president William said he believes it's only football's world governing body, FIFA or the courts, can determine whether his organisation will regain governance of T&T football, and or prevent the country from being banned.

"Nothing can be done now," Wallace said on Monday. He further stated, "Who does the Prime Minister want to talk to, the Normalisation Committee or the FIFA."
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Offline pull stones

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #543 on: July 09, 2020, 01:43:14 AM »
Serves them right! trinis are too bloody pushy and talkative especially the hungry media. had they kept their pie holes shut on both sides and work out a deal then after a settlement ran to the media, then it would have been better. I really can’t anymore with these people!

why can’t a big f**king bolt could just hit fifa head quarters as well as all those world parasitic powers and just wipe them off the bloody map? come on world, why the f**k do people always have to make life so blasted difficult? Grrrrrrrrrrr!!

Offline pull stones

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #544 on: July 09, 2020, 03:45:45 AM »
BTW this is all gamesmanship by fifa, and wallace and company should go for broke with their court dispute. how is it that one day you could be willing to negotiate and the next day change your minds over a leaked media report, come on infantino who are you fooling?

You people are very lucky I don’t have any power to exact change, because if it was up to me, you and your whole cabal would cease to exist in an instant, that’s how much I despise abusers of power.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 03:48:44 AM by pull stones »

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #545 on: July 09, 2020, 05:55:31 AM »
United TTFA lawyer upset by FIFA stance.
By Jelani Beckles (Newsday).


TT Football Association (TTFA) lawyer Matthew Gayle said they made a request to FIFA that all matters between the parties would be resolved through mediation, so it came as a shock when FIFA said the mediation it agreed to previously had nothing to do with the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee.

On Monday, it was revealed that FIFA would consider mediation to resolve the matter regarding their decision to appoint a normalisation committee on March 17 to run T&T football, replacing the TTFA executive.

However, a statement by FIFA on Tuesday sent to the media, said, “For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the mediation FIFA previously agreed to with United TTFA would never have dealt with the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee and would only have covered some costs related issues. This mediation will not go ahead now in any event, owing to the failure of the lawyers of United TTFA to keep the matter confidential, in line with their professional and ethical obligations.”

Gayle is representing the former TTFA executive along with Dr Emir Crowne, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul.

On the issue where mediation would only be used for cost-related issues, Gayle told Newsday, “We have been asking FIFA to mediate on the entirety of the dispute. In fact, before any court proceedings were filed that was the request and that was our position that mediation is the best way to resolve all of the outstanding issues between the parties.

“As for that issue of cost, I am not really sure what FIFA is talking about.”

Gayle was not happy that FIFA chose to send a letter to the media. “Obviously when parties agree to take a particular position including to take part in mediation one would expect that a decision to pull out for whatever reason would be communicated by their counsel and not by way of an international press release.”

He also said the way the release was written could destroy the character of the TTFA lawyers. “One would also expect that it would be done in a way that was respectful and courteous and doesn’t seek to unnecessarily attack the professional character of the lawyers involved, who at the end of the day are just doing their job. To see this statement in the way we did (it is) disappointing.”

FIFA removed TTFA president William Wallace and executive members Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip, along with United TTFA members Keith Look Loy and Anthony Harford.

On May 18, the former TTFA executive decided to take the matter to the T&T High Court, instead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), since they felt they would not get a fair hearing at the Switzerland-based CAS.

FIFA challenged the ousted TTFA executive’s move to have the case heard at the High Court, and the court set a date of July 29 to decide on the matter.

Gayle said the court date at the end of July is still on. “As far as I am concerned the deadline that was set by the court for the filing of submissions must be kept and the hearing must go forward.”

FIFA’s statement on Tuesday said, “FIFA does not, and will never, accept the jurisdiction of a local court in T&T to decide on the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee currently appointed to run football in the territory.

“For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA only recognises the authority and jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in these matters. Any dispute regarding the appointment of a normalisation committee falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the CAS, and CAS alone.”

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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #546 on: July 09, 2020, 08:24:37 AM »
It's the second instance of a FIFA statement intended at besmirching the reputation of counsel and/or attacking them personally.  Have no doubts: it is a direct reflection of what Gianni Infantino sought to have communicated and of his modus operandi, thought and psyche, particularly in battle.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 08:26:08 AM by asylumseeker »

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #547 on: July 09, 2020, 08:55:29 AM »
The reasons for not wanting public acknowledgement of the mediation are grounded on political calculus and deniability of occurrence.  Had the talks stalled, FIFA could have walked away without the global football community having been clued in to their occurrence and FIFA's apparent concession of its stance.

Had the talks been successful, the outcome could have been presented without having to center on the process that produced the positive outcome. There is also the issue of not wishing to appear to have a weakened hand or compromised position.  And there is also the concern of not wanting every Tom,  Dick and Harry of a football federation advocating for mediation as an alternative recourse circumventing the installation of a NC. At the core,  this is also why the subject matter of the mediation has been presented narrowly by FIFA.

Cast these considerations against the sense of victory felt by United TTFA upon learning that mediation was on the table. Clearly United TTFA was the more incentivized of the parties to make the public aware of the mediation, especially after the many voices in opposition that have been decrying United TTFA for having the temerity to challenge the Big House.

Finally, as much as it would be tempting to believe the Honourable Prime Minister is a prophet,  once he made a statement on mediation,  mediation already was imminently and eminently on the table through back channel conversations. There would have been no lack of clarity  or certainty as to what was to be mediated. Maybe going forward someone will think of a pre-mediation agreement (although there is a disincentive in actually having one reduced to writing should it actually see the light of day).
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 09:06:41 AM by asylumseeker »

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #548 on: July 11, 2020, 06:06:51 AM »
Crowne wonders: Was mediation proposal a ‘game’?
By Narissa Fraser (Newsday).


UNITED TT Football Association (TTFA) lawyer Dr Emir Crowne says a media release issued by FIFA, on Tuesday, is “misleading on several fronts.” He is now wondering if the world-governing body for football “ever had the intention” of mediating the ongoing dispute or if it was “all merely a game.”

On Monday, Crowne and TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy confirmed to Newsday that FIFA agreed on mediation to resolve the matter regarding its decision to appoint a normalisation committee on March 17 to run T&T football, replacing the TTFA executive (president William Wallace and vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip).

But on Tuesday, FIFA sent a media release saying the mediation will “not go ahead now in any event, owing to the failure of the lawyers of United TTFA to keep the matter confidential, in line with their professional and ethical obligations.”

It added, “For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the mediation FIFA previously agreed to with United TTFA would never have dealt with the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee and would only have covered some costs related issues.

“For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA only recognises the authority and jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in these matters. Any dispute regarding the appointment of a normalisation committee falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the CAS, and CAS alone.”

Crowne is representing the former TTFA executive along with Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul.

On May 18, the former TTFA executive took the matter to the T&T High Court, instead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They felt they would not get a fair hearing at the Switzerland-based CAS.

FIFA challenged this, and the High Court set a date of July 29 to decide on the matter.

Speaking with Newsday on Friday morning, Crowne said, “I feel compelled to respond to it. First, FIFA's statement that it ‘will never’ accept the jurisdiction of the T&T courts is striking, particularly since the issue of jurisdiction is - in fact - being argued later this month."

He said FIFA's statement that mediation “would only have covered some costs related issues” is false.

“The TTFA never agreed to any such narrowed scope. In fact, one wonders what ‘costs related issues’ FIFA is even speaking about? No costs have arisen in the local proceedings to date, so how could the TTFA even agree to such a narrow scope?”

He said no other details were given to media other than the fact that mediation was agreed upon.

“Surely FIFA cannot take the position that merely confirming the fact of mediation is a breach of confidence?”

He also commented on an article by an online blog that, he said, “has laid the blame solely at his feet."

Crowne said, "The blogger undoubtedly has his own agenda. But the blog post itself, I must say, is malicious and irresponsible. The blogger appears more interested in sensationalism, than any semblance of fair and balanced writing, which is unfortunate."

He said the next step is the hearing of the jurisdiction at the end of the month.

RELATED NEWS

Fifa blames Crowne for withdrawing from TTFA mediation talks, Look Loy: Fifa is petrified.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Fifa announced today that it has withdrawn from proposed mediation talks with the ‘United TTFA’ and blamed its decision on the ‘failure’ of the latter’s attorneys ‘to keep the matter confidential’.

Yesterday, Fifa, for the first time since 17 March, suggested that it was ready to talk to besieged TTFA president William Wallace and his vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Philip.

The move followed repeated requests for mediation from Wallace’s team and a recent public appeal for the same by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Within hours, TTFA attorney Dr Emir Crowne was on TV6 to share the update with the public. And, barely a day later, Fifa said it was again walking away from the negotiating table.

“This mediation will not go ahead now in any event,” stated a release from Fifa, “owing to the failure of the lawyers of ‘United TTFA’ to keep the matter confidential—in line with their professional and ethical obligations.”

The TTFA is represented legally by Matthew Gayle, Crystal Paul and Crowne of the New City Chambers while Fifa retained attorneys Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie from M Hamel-Smith and Co.

Fifa is headed by president Gianni Infantino, who also leads the Bureau of the Fifa Council. On 17 March, the Bureau voted to replace Wallace and other elected officials with a normalisation committee, led by businessman Robert Hadad.

Wallace and his vice-presidents have resisted Infantino in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and, subsequently, in the local High Court.

Wired868 did not receive a response from Crowne or Gayle on Fifa’s decision to scupper talks up to the time of publication.

A Trinidad Newsday article last night quoted United TTFA member Keith Look Loy as suggesting that Fifa’s agreement to talk ‘implicitly offers recognition by Fifa of the democratically elected TTFA leadership, and it potentially opens the way for productive talk between equals’.

However, the Fifa statement today, which was unsigned, insisted that the governing body still does not recognise Wallace as TTFA president and had no intention of disbanding its own normalisation committee.

“For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the mediation Fifa previously agreed to with ‘United TTFA’ would never have dealt with the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee,” stated Fifa, “and would only have covered some costs related issues.”

Look Loy, who is a member of the TTFA Board and president of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), fired back that if Fifa really wanted to talk about costs, then the United TTFA is happy not to have wasted its time.

“If that is their approach, then Fifa is just playing a game and they are saving us time and additional expense,” Look Loy told Wired868. “When our lawyers wrote to them, we thought we were discussing mediation on the substantiative issue, which is the appointment of the normalisation committee. We were willing to compromise and find a way to work with them, once they recognised our jurisdiction.

“But in their usual arrogant, high handed manner, they are saying they were only ever going to talk about costs. So onward to the court!”

Had the leaking of Fifa’s inclination to talk to Wallace and his vice-presidents embarrassed the governing body and put its own normalisation committee, headed by businessman Robert Hadad, in an awkward position?

Was Fifa indulging in time wasting? Or did Fifa believe that Wallace’s resolve had weakened and he would be willing to drop the case and walk—once there was no financial loss attached to doing so?

Wired868 can confirm that Crowne reached out to the Fifa attorneys for help in ‘resolving the matter through mediation’. At no time did either party suggest that discussions would be limited to costs or anything else.

There was also an informal agreement that both sides would request an adjournment to their legal case so as to further pursue mediation, once necessary.

The two parties are due to meet in the High Court on 29 July, when Fifa will push for the case to be moved from Trinidad and back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Fifa itself is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

Look Loy said Fifa is terrified of their court date, which he feels can strike a blow at the governing body’s ability to unilaterally unseat properly elected officials.

“I believe Fifa is petrified about the possibility of the local court upholding this case, which will undermine the Fifa/CAS normalisation committee system and culture,” said Look Loy. “Every national association across the globe would be taking note of that decision and it will undermine Fifa’s untrammelled power to implement a committee with no set guidelines, which allows it to do whatever Fifa wants for how long it wants; that is an arbitrary use of power.

“At the moment, there are no definite conditions under which a normalisation committee could and should be imposed, or time limits on its exercise of authority. But onwards to the court—no problem.”

Fifa, the largest single sport body in the world, insisted that, although the TTFA is formed by an Act of Parliament, it would not accept the direction of the Trinidad and Tobago courts in its handling of the local association.

“Fifa does not, and will never, accept the jurisdiction of a local court in Trinidad and Tobago to decide on the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee currently appointed to run football in the territory,” stated the Fifa statement. “For the avoidance of doubt, Fifa only recognises the authority and jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in these matters.

“Any dispute regarding the appointment of a normalisation committee falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the CAS—and CAS alone. ‘United TTFA’ itself previously went to CAS and then unilaterally withdrew from the CAS process.”

Fifa’s insistence on referring to its case as a matter against the ‘United TTFA’ rather than the TTFA was itself pointed.

Once more, the tussle between Wallace and Infantino is heading for court.

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Offline lefty

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #549 on: July 13, 2020, 06:56:41 AM »
A little perspective on CAS as an arbitrator body d la liga president expressed a lack of confidence in their decision making after e Man City decision (overturning EUFA ban).

Interesting

LaLiga chief blasts CAS after Man City's European ban is overturned via @Onefootball. Read it here:

https://1.ftb.al/Q5Ns8UVu57

I pity the fool....

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #550 on: July 29, 2020, 07:36:46 PM »
Judge Gobin reserves TTFA decision for August 13.
By Derek Achong (Guardian).


A group of former T&T Football Association (TTFA) executive officers, is expected to find out whether they can pursue their lawsuit over FIFA’s controversial decision to remove and replace them with a normalisation committee, on August 13.

After a lengthy virtual hearing on Wednesday, High Court Judge Carol Gobin reserved her decision on an application brought by FIFA to strike out or stay the lawsuit brought by former TTFA president William Wallace and his executive team.

Presenting submissions on FIFA’s behalf, Senior Counsel Christopher Hamel-Smith repeatedly stated that the local High Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain the lawsuit as the legislation which established the TTFA and the organisation’s constitution states that such disputes should be resolved through arbitration.

Hamel-Smith suggested that the clauses could have been removed from the constitution if the TTFA desired but were not.

Hamel-Smith also rejected Wallace and his colleagues’ complaints about the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which like FIFA is based in Switzerland and is the arbitration body identified by it (FIFA) for such disputes.

Referring to claims that the CAS is biased based on its failure to require FIFA to cover half of the 40,000 Swiss francs (TT$276,000) in costs associated with the appeal to it, Hamel-Smith noted that it (CAS) was merely stating FIFA’s long-standing policy in all cases involving it.

Hamel-Smith stated that while Wallace and his team could have applied for legal aid to cover the full cost of the appeal, as required under the Swiss-court’s rules, they did not.

“You may disagree with the decision but that is not grounds for bias,” Hamel-Smith said, as he noted that court officials who communicated with the parties would not be the arbitrators in the appeal.

Responding to the submissions, Dr Emir Crowne, who is leading the former TTFA board members’ legal team, called on Gobin to look past the clauses which appear to require arbitration as opposed to local litigation.

Stating that such requirements are inoperable and unconscionable, Crowne claimed that FIFA forced their inclusion at the expense of the association and its members.

“The crux of the matter is when FIFA says so, apparently the world must bend to its will,” Crowne said.

In terms of proceedings before the CAS, Crowne noted that his clients opted to withdraw their proceedings due to the gross inequity in bargaining power compared to FIFA.

Stating that the CAS is a private arbitration company, Crowne said his client was uncomfortable with its readiness to accept FIFA’s position on paying costs.

“The familiarity between the parties shown gives us a general cause of concern,” Crowne said.

He also pointed out that Switzerland was an inappropriate forum to resolve such a legal dispute considering the case sole involves T&T.

Crowne also questioned FIFA’s claim that it may withhold funding for local football if Gobin decides to reject its application and hear the case.

“That cannot be a proper argument to a court. That cannot be correct,” Crowne said.

Through the local lawsuit, Wallace and his three vice presidents — Clynt Taylor, Joseph Sam Phillips, and Susan Joseph-Warrick are seeking a declaration that the decision to remove them in March and replace them with a committee headed by businessman Robert Hadad, was null, void, and of no legal or binding effect.

They are also seeking a permanent injunction barring FIFA from meddling in the TTFA’s affair by allegedly seeking to circumvent the democratic process by removing the duly elected executive members.

In the event that Gobin rejects FIFA’s application, the case before her will continue. If the application is upheld, Wallace and his colleagues will have to either abide by FIFA’s decision or attempt to revive their appeal before the CAS.

Wallace and his colleagues are also being represented by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Crystal Paul, and Jason Jones, while Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie appeared alongside Hamel-Smith for FIFA.

RELATED NEWS

Justice Gobin to answer TTFA challenge in August.
By Jada Loutoo (Newsday).


SHOULD the T&T courts hear a challenge by the TT Football Association (TTFA) former executive against the world governing body for football, FIFA, over the appointment of a normalisation committee to run the affairs of the sport locally, or should it go to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)?

This is the question Justice Carol Gobin will answer on August 13.

She has been asked to throw out the claim by the TTFA executives – ousted president William Wallace and vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip.

On May 18, the TTFA executive decided to take the matter against FIFA to the TT High Court instead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The TTFA executives felt they would not get a fair hearing at CAS.

The Wallace-led executive was removed from office by FIFA on March 17 after less than four months in the job.

The former executive was replaced by a normalisation committee led by local businessman Robert Hadad. The committee was formed to run the affairs of local football, including getting rid of the $50 million debt facing the local football body.

FIFA challenged the ousted TTFA executive’s move to have the case heard at the High Court and on Wednesday, the judge heard submissions from both sides at a virtual hearing.

The ousted executives’ lead counsel, Dr Emir Crowne argued that “the forced” arbitration before the CAS was not the appropriate forum for the dispute since it offended public policy.

He said it would be “unconscionable” to have the CAS resolve the dispute since there was no foreign element in the dispute which involves tort and land claims specific to T&T.

Even so, he said even if there was an agreement between the TTFA and FIFA, as the world governing body contends, to have disputes resolved at the CAS, it did not displace the local court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate on the claim.

Crowne also argued CAS was not the appropriate forum for the dispute since it has shown “undue familiarity” towards FIFA giving rise to the argument of apparent bias.

He described it as “familiar and cozy” relationship between FIFA and CAS since it was pointed out that the court of arbitration was familiar with a policy of FIFA not to pay advanced costs in appeals to it.

“When FIFA says so the world must bend to its whim? We submit this is not appropriate,” he said, adding that the FIFA statute which prohibits member associations from taking challenges to the local courts, but must go to the CAS, was also unconscionable.

“Even if FIFA says you signed up to our statutes you cannot have TTFA contract out or relinquish its rights set by a T&T parliament,” he said as he referred to the TTFA Act which he says cannot be amended.

“I do not think any association has bargaining power when it comes to FIFA,” he also said in arguments against the clause.

Crowne maintains the TTFA was formed by a constitutional act of Parliament. He also said the normalisation committee’s role was to assume control of the association or “usurp” the role of the TTFA’s board of directors, including taking control of properties and accounts.

At the start of the hearing, Crowne insisted that the TTFA would consider participating in mediation but not arbitration while FIFA’s lead counsel Christopher Hamel-Smith said it would participate in arbitration not mediation.

Hamel-Smith also pointed to the TTFA Act which, he said, prohibits the executive from commencing these proceedings in the local courts.

He also said under the TTFA constitution, the TTFA was a member of FIFA and was empowered to respect and prevent infringement of the world body’s statutes and regulations.

Hamel-Smith accused the ousted TTFA executive of disregarding and breach the terms of its own constitution by filing the proceedings in the local courts.

“There are ways to pursue a claim of this sort. And that would be, in accordance with constitution and the TTFA Act, to follow procedure to amend the constitution to remove the restriction it voluntary imposed on itself to bring proceedings like this to the (local) court rather than the CAS,” Hamel-Smith submitted.

“These proceedings ultra vires, null and void and ought to be dismissed. They are free to do it the proper way and then come back to the court and pursue the action,” he submitted.

He also said everyone admitted that TTFA got itself into a financial mess and this prompted FIFA to set up the normalisation committee. He said if the ousted had an issue with the costs associated with the arbitration at the CAS then it could have applied for legal aid.

Hamel-Smith said although the CAS confirmed three arbitrators would deal with the dispute, which was “hardly surprising given the nature of the dispute,” the court was not the tribunal but the administrative entity and there was no reason for believing the tribunal would be biased.

Also appearing for the Wallace and his team are attorneys Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul while Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie represent FIFA.

« Last Edit: July 30, 2020, 06:29:35 AM by Flex »
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Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #551 on: July 31, 2020, 01:22:09 PM »
Wallace: FIFA not genuine with fixing T&T football.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


William Wallace, the ousted president of the T&T Football Association has said that recent developments with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Switzerland is confirmation that the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to govern T&T football had nothing to do with fixing the sport in the twin-island Republic, but rather, keeping certain people in power who it feels will support them in the end.

On Thursday, a report from Switzerland stated that criminal proceedings against Infantino had been launched and a special prosecutor was appointed this month to investigate dealings between Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber and the head of world football. According to the report "Mr Lauber offered to resign last week after a court concluded he covered up a meeting with Mr Infantino and lied to supervisors while his office probed corruption surrounding FIFA."

Wallace who has been leading his team's (United TTFA) challenge against the FIFA after it decided to appoint a normalisation committee in March, was in a confident mood after Wednesday's first court proceedings at the High Court in Port-of-Spain that ended with an adjournment until August 13.

Speaking to Guardian Media Sports on Thursday Wallace said: "When we look at what's happening with the FIFA president Infantino, and we have been following this story for quite some time, and you look at what's happening in T&T, you realise that these are the persons who are responsible for sending persons to T&T because they feel that we have a problem that needs fixing, and the very organisation, the very persons who are making those decisions, are persons who have come under serious questions."

"This, for me, and I am sure that before long, other things would emerge to show that this has nothing to do with fixing T&T football, but was purely a political act of keeping certain people in power who you think would support you at the end of the day."

Wallace's team of Joseph Sam Phillip, Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and himself, was replaced by a normalisation committee that comprised chairman Robert Hadad, Attorney Judy Daniel and former banker Nigel Romano, on March 27. The group had assumed office following the TTFA annual general meeting (AGM) on November 24.

However, their attempt to achieve justice through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland was withdrawn by Wallace and his legal team on May 18, sighting institutional bias and moved their challenge to the high court in T&T, asking the court to sit on the matter. However, FIFA counted by saying that the T&T court has no jurisdiction and the matter should be decided by CAS.

FIFA is contending that CAS is the appropriate court, as stated in their Statutes and the TTFA constitution. However, TTFA believes that they will be given a fair trial at the T&T court, although they are aware that suspensions could be forthcoming for their actions. Despite the legal battle, Wallace still did not rule out mediation, saying: "We have always asked for mediation, and it's not out the window yet because mediation can take place at any time. Yes, we had the first part of the case starting on Wednesday, but that does not mean that is the end of mediation. So even if this goes to trial and we hope that it does and T&T justice system rules in our favour, even if they do, there is still an opportunity for mediation."

RELATED NEWS

FIFA President Gianni Infantino Faces Criminal Investigation.
By Tariq Panja (NYTimes).


A new inquiry takes aim at undisclosed meetings with a Swiss official leading investigations into soccer corruption.

A federal prosecutor in Switzerland said on Thursday that he had opened a criminal investigation into Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, after concluding that there were “indications of criminal conduct” in meetings between Infantino and an official overseeing an investigation into soccer corruption.

The investigation follows the resignation last week of Switzerland’s attorney general, Michael Lauber, who stepped down after a federal court upheld allegations that he had lied about meeting with Infantino. Lauber had been overseeing an investigation of the 2015 corruption scandal that led to criminal indictments against some of the top leaders at FIFA, soccer’s Switzerland-based world governing body. The scandal led to the ouster of most of FIFA’s senior leadership, and paved the way for Infantino’s victory in a special presidential election a year later.

The federal prosecutor, Stefan Keller, announced the new investigation after reviewing two complaints made against Infantino, Lauber and Rinaldo Arnold, a regional prosecutor and a childhood friend of Infantino’s who had helped arrange meetings between the FIFA president and the attorney general. Arnold is also under investigation, Keller’s office said. Prosecutors called for Lauber’s immunity to be lifted so he could be investigated, too.

In a statement, Keller said the allegations in two new complaints against Infantino, Lauber and Arnold center on the abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, assisting offenders and incitement to break the law.

The announcement is the latest legal complication for Infantino and Lauber, the attorney general, since details of their meetings emerged more than a year ago. They first came to light after a leak of emails by the Football Leaks platform, and became subject to more scrutiny when both men failed to remember what had been discussed at a meeting at a hotel in 2017, the third the pair had held in 15 months.

“On the basis of general life experience, such a case of collective amnesia is an aberration,” was the conclusion in the federal court ruling that largely upheld an earlier censure of Lauber.

Infantino has pushed back against the allegations, which have been the focus of intense news media interest in his native Switzerland and in Germany. In a statement on Thursday, Infantino pledged to continue to assist the Swiss investigations into FIFA.

“People remember well where FIFA was as an institution back in 2015, and how substantial judicial intervention was actually required to help restore the credibility of the organization,” Infantino said. “As president of FIFA, it has been my aim from Day One, and it remains my aim, to assist the authorities with investigating past wrongdoings at FIFA.”

But FIFA’s statement also pointedly rejected any implication of wrongdoing. “To meet with the Attorney General of Switzerland is perfectly legitimate and it’s perfectly legal,” Infantino said last week. “It’s no violation of anything.”

When he resigned, Lauber insisted he had been truthful at all times, but he said his position had become untenable. “The fact that I am not believed as the attorney general is detrimental to the federal prosecution office,” he said.

Keller, the federal prosecutor, was appointed in July after the receipt of anonymous criminal complaints that Infantino described as “quite absurd.”

The speed of the proceedings against Infantino is in stark contrast with the plodding pace of previous Swiss soccer investigations, including the one started after a 2014 complaint by FIFA about suspected money laundering in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding campaigns.

Since then, a number of other cases have been opened, but none have concluded with a conviction. The only criminal trial, against a group of former German soccer officials, collapsed because it had surpassed a statute of limitations.

Lauber held a news conference after the details of the first two meetings with Infantino were revealed by Football Leaks. He claimed they were justified because of the longstanding investigation into the soccer body, though he recused himself from the FIFA case anyway. A third meeting came to light only after further revelations by the news media.

That disclosure prompted an inquiry into Lauber’s conduct by a supervisory body. In March, it punished him by cutting his salary by 8 percent. Lauber then hired the same lawyer as the former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is facing a separate criminal investigation, to mount an appeal.

That panel restored some of the salary reduction, but it also issued scathing comments about his conduct in its final ruling.

Lauber, the panel said, had “intentionally made a false statement” to the supervisory body “and knowingly concealed the third meeting with FIFA president Infantino.”

The investigation is a new blow for FIFA, which has tried to turn the corner on the corruption scandal by instituting governance reforms under Infantino.

Infantino, a former official at European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, has often claimed the days of cronyism and corruption are now behind the organization. But accusations of wrongdoing against senior officials have continued. A day after Infantino had told the FIFA Congress in Paris last year that the days of scandal were over, one of his vice presidents, the head of African soccer, was arrested and questioned by French financial prosecutors.

A separate FIFA ethics probe into the official, Ahmad Ahmad, has yet to come to a conclusion even though the case has been with its investigators for more than a year.

« Last Edit: July 31, 2020, 01:33:29 PM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #552 on: August 01, 2020, 01:03:56 PM »
Well, Well, Well!

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #553 on: August 01, 2020, 09:50:58 PM »
Normalize he arse- what happening with FIFA is normal - boss of normalization-
When I say FIFA you say CORRUPTION
Let's hear it now who overseeing the boss man at FIFA? It have ah normal committee fuh dat?
« Last Edit: August 01, 2020, 10:31:40 PM by ABTrini »

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #554 on: August 02, 2020, 10:43:35 AM »
Fifa: TTFA wants to have cake and eat it too; TTFA: Arbitration clause ‘unconscionable’
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Should the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) be forced to abide by an arbitration clause that is explicit in its own constitution?

Or is the clause itself, which orders that all disputes with Fifa be sent to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), ‘unconscionable’ by virtue of it being ‘forced’ on the TTFA; and a supposed attempt to nullify the local body’s own statutes?

Port of Spain High Court Judge Carol Gobin listened to counsel for both parties today in a four hour long virtual hearing. Justice Gobin promised a decision by 13 August.

The substantive matter before her is an injunctive relief by Fifa, the world governing football body, which asks the High Court to dismiss the TTFA’s case against its implementation of a normalisation committee and/or to compel the member association to return to the CAS.

Fifa, headed by president Gianni Infantino, is represented in the High Court action by attorneys Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie from M Hamel-Smith and Co.

The TTFA, whose listed representatives in the matter are president William Wallace and vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip, is represented by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle and Crystal Paul of the New City Chambers.

At the heart of the dispute is the Fifa Bureau of the Council’s decision, on 17 March, to implement a normalisation committee on the twin island republic—due, on the surface, to issues with the financial management of the local body.

The Bureau of the Council is headed by Infantino and the Fifa Council subsequently ratified its decision last month.

First, Hamel-Smith suggested that his legal opponents failed to prove that its case had been taken by those ‘empowered to make such a decision’.

He pointed to article 36(a) of the TTFA Constitution, which said that its board of directors ‘shall pass decisions on all cases that do not come within the sphere of responsibility of the General Meeting or are not reserved for other bodies by law or under this Constitution’.

Wallace, he contended, did not prove that the TTFA board agreed to embark upon a course that exposed its members to ‘severe consequences’.

Crowne’s response was curt, as he pointed to article 39.1, which states: ‘the president represents the TTFA legally’.

“If that is not an answer [to Wallace’s authority to commence legal action],” said Crowne, “then I do not know what is.”

Hamel-Smith contended too that the TTFA’s attempt to serve Fifa—based in Zurich, Switzerland—in its High Court action was ‘unlawful’ as Swiss law does not permit this to be done via email.

Crowne retorted that there was ‘no evidence of what Swiss law actually says’ on the matter and suggested the two bodies got along fine with emails during their short-lived CAS exchange.

It was not a point that appeared to particularly trouble Justice Gobin. The appropriateness of CAS as the forum for this dispute was far more pressing.

Hamel-Smith noted that Fifa has over 200 member associations, with most having different legal systems. Fifa’s request that all football nations agree to one body to handle disagreements, he suggested, was more sensible and practical than the alternative.

“There is nothing abusive or advantageous in Fifa wanting consistent laws to govern its associations,” he said.

Crowne argued that CAS’ ‘prohibitively expensive’ fees of 40,000 Swiss francs (TT$297,000) to adjudicate the matter—since his clients were initially asked to pay both its share of the arbitration fees and Fifa’s—had the effect of pricing the TTFA out of justice.

However, Hamel-Smith countered that, in its withdrawal from CAS, the TTFA’s legal team stated: ‘even if our clients applied to the CAS for legal aid, it would still not remedy the apparent institutional bias that has arisen’.

And Fifa official Miguel Lietard, in his affidavit, suggested that the TTFA’s share of the CAS costs, 20,000 Swiss francs or TT$148,000, was ‘equivalent to just one month’s base salary that Mr Wallace committed the TTFA to pay to the head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Football Team [Terry Fenwick]’.

So, Fifa argued that TTFA’s complaints about the CAS’ costs—having failed to apply for legal aid—was essentially a red herring.

“The true reason it didn’t proceed wasn’t because of Fifa not paying its share of the advance cost,” said Hamel-Smith. “[…] They formed the view that CAS was guilty of institutional bias and they didn’t want the matter to be settled there.

“This is the knob; this is where the varnish is removed.”

Hamel-Smith conceded that the CAS appeared akin to flippant in relaying information to the TTFA regarding, for example, Fifa’s longstanding agreement with the judicial body to pay its legal fees after matters are heard.
Fifa’s right to pay fees after the fact supposedly spares the governing body the grief of chasing down defeated legal opponents for money.

Similarly, the CAS explained that its norm is to have three arbitrators and, if the TTFA wanted just one, the onus was on their legal team to make a case for such.

Hamel-Smith suggested that the TTFA did not prove institutional bias; and, in fact, the CAS is a body of great international renown. However, even if Wallace did have concerns, he said it did infringe on their ability to get a fair shake there—as CAS administrators had nothing to do with the arbitration process.

The CAS, said Hamel-Smith, merely collected fees and administered the process. And the TTFA had not complained of any bias by the named arbiters.

“CAS is the administrative body and not the tribunal who will make the judgment,” said Hamel-Smith.

Crowne replied that CAS is ‘a private arbitration company’ that had given his legal team ‘genuine pause’ in its ‘disconcerting’ conduct. He argued that to proceed despite the alleged bias was to arguably ‘waive our right to object’ later on.

He described Fifa’s reliance on the CAS as ‘a completely lopsided scheme that works entirely in its favour’ and one which ‘cannot be a system that this court upholds’. And he attempted to make light of the proffered reason why the CAS wanted three arbitrators to hear its case—thereby tripling the costs—as opposed to one.

“My lady, this case is before you,” said Crowne, “does this mean there should be three judges hearing this dispute? No.”

Crowne insisted that ‘the Court will be sending the TTFA back to an unfair forum’ if it ordered their return to CAS. And he argued that forum non conviens (the court’s discretion to decide which forum is better suited to hear a case) ought to determine that Trinidad is the right venue for the dispute between the TTFA and the normalisation committee—both consisting of entirely local citizens.

“How is a body of non-Trinidad nationals the best forum to decide whether the appointment of this normalisation committee in accordance with Trinidad law or not?” asked Crowne, as he claimed that the TTFA Constitution—governed by an Act of Parliament—was the first applicable rule book before one sought to determine whether Fifa was right to intervene.

The TTFA Constitution only allows a president to be removed by a vote from its general membership. Hamel-Smith argued that Fifa’s Statutes override the TTFA’s and noted that even article 2.1(h) of the latter’s constitution states that its ability ‘to control and supervise’ the local game must be ‘in accordance with the relevant Statutes and regulations of FIFA and Concacaf’.

Hamel-Smith said the TTFA included this clause in its constitution of its own free will, as well as its willingness to utilise the CAS.

“Not only is there an arbitral agreement but the TTFA constitution itself includes the arbitration process,” said Hamel-Smith. “They want the benefit of being a member of Fifa; then of course it must accept the restrictions and commitment that come with that benefit.

“You can’t have your cake and eat it.”

He suggested that the question of forum non conveniens arose when a matter could potentially be held in more than one jurisdiction and not when there is a valid arbitration agreement in place.

“The parties have in fact made a choice [of the appropriate forum, through its arbitration clause],” said Hamel-Smith. “There must be a reason to override this when the two parties have agreed.”

Crowne suggested that it was not much of a choice for the TTFA at all.

He referenced a Canadian taxi driver, David Heller, who successfully overturned an arbitration clause with Uber—that mandated disputes to be heard in ‘a costly arbitration process in the Netherlands’—on the grounds that it was ‘unconscionable’ and therefore ‘unenforceable’.

“There was clearly inequality of bargaining power between Uber and Mr Heller,” stated the Canada Supreme Court’s ruling. “The arbitration agreement was part of a standard form contract. Mr Heller was powerless to negotiate any of its terms.”

Crowne compared the TTFA versus Fifa to Heller’s grapple with Uber; and pointed to article 59.2-3 of the Fifa Statutes, which states:

‘Recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the Fifa regulations… The associations shall insert a clause in their statutes or regulations, stipulating that it is prohibited to take disputes in the association or disputes affecting leagues, members of leagues, clubs, members of clubs, players, officials and other association officials to ordinary courts of law, unless the Fifa regulations or binding legal provisions specifically provide for or stipulate recourse to ordinary courts of law’.

Crowne accused Fifa of overplaying its hand in attempting to completely ouster local courts, with member associations powerless to resist.

“There is no voluntariness in adopting that—it is mandatory,” said Crowne. “[…] Our attack on the clause comes from the fact that it is forced on member associations, clubs, leagues, players and officials. By virtue of that, we say the clause is inoperable [and] cannot form the basis for a valid arbitration agreement.

“The crux of the matter is when Fifa says so, the world must bend to its whim. We say it is inappropriate [and] the clause itself is unconscionable.

“[…] No member association in the world can say they have any bargaining power period when it comes to Fifa.”

The judge was interested in the argument.

“They have raised a very important question as to whether Fifa can override statutory provisions,” said Justice Gobin. “By subscribing to the Fifa agreement, [the member association agrees] to give up the day to day management that its statutes vested in its general membership.

“Can any person enter into an agreement that amends its [own] statutes or overrides its statutory provisions? Is that an appropriate question for the Court of Arbitration [for Sport], as opposed to a court in Trinidad?”

Hamel-Smith countered that the normalisation committee had not replaced the TTFA’s general council but only its board. He used the analogy of a company going into receivership. The receiver replaces the company’s board but not its shareholders.

The normalisation committee, he suggested, was the ‘equivalent of the receiver manager’.

By 13 August, Justice Gobin will reveal which message she received favourably—in a legal tussle that is likely to have far-reaching implications for either party.

A TTFA defeat would mean curtains for Wallace, who has already resigned as Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president, after being advised to do so by his executive body.

A Fifa defeat could set a troublesome precedent against the governing body, as far as its relations with other member associations go. Secretary general Fatma Samoura warned already that Fifa will not recognise the TTFA if its resistance of the normalisation committee is heard in the High Court.

Crowne asked Justice Gobin to view that warning as the very sort of bullying stance that underpins Fifa’s relationship with its member bodies.

“It cannot be correct [for Fifa to say] that we will penalise you if a local court agrees to hear your grievance,” said Crowne.

In two weeks’ time, Madame Justice Gobin will decide whether the TTFA is compelled to abide by the arbitration process it begun and then abandoned with the CAS.

Or if the Port of Spain High Court is the best venue for justice in a high stakes legal sport matter.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Trini _2026

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #555 on: August 13, 2020, 12:48:58 PM »
https://twitter.com/EmirCrowne/status/1293968479599591424/photo/1

Breaking: High Court of Trinidad & Tobago declines FIFA's request to stay local proceedings & remit matter back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Local court assumes jurisdiction. FIFA now has 21 days to file their defence.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sh8SeGmzai4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/sh8SeGmzai4</a>

Offline Tiresais

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #556 on: August 14, 2020, 02:02:58 AM »
https://twitter.com/EmirCrowne/status/1293968479599591424/photo/1

Breaking: High Court of Trinidad & Tobago declines FIFA's request to stay local proceedings & remit matter back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Local court assumes jurisdiction. FIFA now has 21 days to file their defence.

Honestly didn't expect such a comprehensive victory, I'm encouraged and scared at the same time - if FIFA act like petty assholes I feel for the youngsters who will undoubtedly miss out on opportunities.

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #557 on: August 14, 2020, 07:48:00 AM »
Judge Gobin rules High court can referee TTFA v FIFA case.
By Derek Achong (Guardian).


FIFA has lost its bid to have a lawsuit by a group of former T&T Football Association (TTFA) executive members over their removal dismissed before it even kicked off.

Delivering a judgement electronically on Thursday, High Court Judge Carol Gobin rejected FIFA's interim application to strike out the claim based on its rule, which precludes member federations and associations from taking legal action against it in their local courts.

Gobin ruled that FIFA's rule, which it says the TTFA agreed to when it joined the organisation, could not oust the jurisdiction of the local courts to determine whether its rules are in conformity to the Act of Parliament, which established the TTFA.

She also said that arbitration, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the referee, as suggested by FIFA and initially attempted by former TTFA president William Wallace and his executive could not resolve the dispute.

"This is a matter which falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the High Court of this country. This is not a matter for the CAS," Gobin said.

Gobin also noted that FIFA's policy of refusing to pay its share of the 40,000 Swiss francs (TT$276,000) required for the arbitration before the CAS rendered the process inoperable.

She said that at the eventual trial of the case Fifa would have to prove that its removal of the board and the appointment of its normalisation committee was in conformity with its own statutes which speak to respecting the independence of member associations.

"FIFA may yet have to justify its purported assumption of extraordinary power to control the day to day affairs of the TTFA, including the authority to amend to review and amend its statutes and to organise and conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate," she said.

In her judgement, Gobin made noted of FIFA's open threat that former board's continued pursuit of the matter in court may lead to the suspension of the country's membership and funding cuts.

Gobin noted that while FIFA has a duty to ensure the enforcement of its rules, she noted that its lofty objectives in Article 3 and 4 of its statutes include a commitment to non-discrimination and humanitarian objectives underpinned by the rule of law.

"I do not expect FIFA to walk off the field or take its ball and go home if, after full ventilation of the issues, this court were to confirm the primacy of an Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over the FIFA Statutes," she said.

FIFA was ordered to pay the former board's legal costs for defending the application.

Through the local lawsuit, Wallace and his three vice presidents — Clynt Taylor, Joseph Sam Phillips, and Susan Joseph-Warrick are seeking a declaration that the decision to remove them in March and replace them with a committee headed by businessman Robert Hadad, was null, void, and of no legal or binding effect.

They are also seeking a permanent injunction barring FIFA from meddling in the TTFA's affair by allegedly seeking to circumvent the democratic process by removing duly elected executive members.

Wallace and his colleagues are being represented by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Crystal Paul, and Jason Jones, while Christopher Hamel-Smith, SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie are representing FIFA.

A date for the next hearing of the case is yet to be fixed.

RELATED NEWS

We just wanted to be heard — Wallace.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


Members of the United T&T Football Association are claiming round one in their battle against the sport’s supreme body - FIFA, after High Court Judge Justice Carol Gobin, ruled that T&T courts can hear the matter. In her 24-page electronic judgement on Thursday Gobin wrote: “This matter is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports.”

The United TTFA is seeking to have FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee which was appointed on March 27 to govern the affairs of T&T football be removed. FIFA on March 17 removed the duly elected executive of the TTFA headed by president William Wallace and his thre vice presidents — Clynt Taylor, Joseph Sam Phillips, and Susan Joseph-Warrick.

Wallace told Guardian Media Sports on Thursday that: “We are extremely happy with the ruling of the judge. We just wanted the opportunity to be heard that is what we were always asking for. So, this is the first step and we are grateful and elated.”

Asked if he feeling that he vindicated he responded, “I will not say that myself, this is just the beginning and the end of it all if I have to be vindicated then, then I will be vindicated then. It’s just the beginning so I will not toot my horn until the end.”

The matter was initially set to be heard in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) situated in Lausanne, Switzerland in May, but the William Wallace-led TTFA opted to take its fight to the High Court in Port-of-Spain on May 18, citing institutional bias.

Justice Gobin, in handing down her decision, urged the FIFA to not exercise discrimination of any kind against the TTFA, saying: “65. As for the concerns about irreparable fallout or adverse consequences to TTFA and T&T I am encouraged by the lofty objectives identified in FIFA statutes and particularly articles (3) and (4) of FIFA’s commitment to respecting internationally recognised human rights, non-discrimination of any kind against a country for any reason and its commitment to promoting friendly relations in society for humanitarian objectives all of which are underpinned by an appreciation for the rule of law. I do not expect FIFA to walk off the field or to take its ball and go home if, after full ventilation of the issues, this court were to confirm the primacy of an Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over the FIFA Statutes.”

Following the ruling as Keith Look Loy, who served at chairman of the TTFA Technical Committee in Wallace administration said the fight is about national sovereignty and democracy. “This is a struggle about national sovereignty and democracy. The court has said that T&T’s law is supreme. The court has said that it has the absolute right to hear this case, irrespective of what FIFA may say. The second case in this matter is about FIFA’s right to impose that committee. I fully expected this decision to go our way, as I am convinced that the second decision will go our way.”

Look Loy, a former national player and coach believe that this matter will be a significant one, as the FIFA is facing challenges by other Member Association around the world. “I have always maintained that this case will have far-reaching implications for the whole FIFA, Normalisation Committee, CAS system. There are people around the world watching this and this is one of the biggest decisions in global sports law for I don’t know how many decades. So the two cases combined is not only about the TTFA or what FIFA can do and if we have a plan to pay off debt, no. This is about huge matters of global importance and we have won the first round and we are happy for that, and we look forward going into the substantiative case which, I repeat, is if FIFA has the right to remove a democratically and constitutionally elected executive and replace it with whatever it feels to replace it with.”

With the ruling, the FIFA now has a period of seven days to file an appeal and 21 days to file a defence against the claims against them. Look Loy dismissed claims of an impending ban on the United TTFA for its decision to seek justice via the local courts, as well as its breach of the FIFA Statutes which is liable to a ban or suspension.

He believes the ruling can also inspire other member associations in the FIFA to challenge decisions that may be seen as unfair, or forced the FIFA to amend its Statutes. “It is not just a matter of TTFA versus FIFA, but what this now places squarely on the table in my view, is the issue of FIFA regulations, FIFA protocol, FIFA culture and FIFA Statutes. Under the statutes as it exist right now, FIFA can literally declare that it does not like the shape pf the president’s head and impose a normalisation committee, there are no rules to guide it. None in terms of the reasons why it will be imposed, the duration of the imposition, the functions of the committee, nothing at all. This places on the table the question of if normalisation committees are legal and if they are legal under what limitations.”

Look Loy said there are lots of unreported concerns of normalisation committees across the globe, saying the African nations are currently in a battle with one now.

Ousted TTFA executive awaits final whistle in FIFA dispute
By Narissa Fraser (Newsday).


OUSTED TT Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as Justice Carol Gobin has denied FIFA’s request to have the ongoing dispute remitted back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The case can now proceed locally.

It has been approximately five months of an ongoing dispute between the TTFA and the world-governing body of football.

It began on March 17 when FIFA removed Wallace and his executive (deputies Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip) who were elected in November 2019. FIFA said the decision was made because of the association’s financial woes and “massive debt.”

The TTFA currently has a debt of approximately $50 million .

The removal of the TTFA executive was done in accordance with article 8:2 of FIFA’s statutes which states, “Executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the council in consultation with the relevant confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specific period of time.”

But in April, the ousted executive made an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, saying the decision was a breach of the TTFA’s constitution.

The team later indicated it did not believe CAS would give a “fair hearing” as they encountered runarounds during the process. Instead – on May 18 – they appealed to the local High Court.

But the drama only continued as FIFA – in June – filed an injunction in the TT High Court to stop it from hearing any matter relating the ongoing dispute. It insisted that CAS was the only acceptable forum.

On Thursday, Gobin ruled: “The application for the stay of proceedings is refused…The defendant is ordered to pay the claimants costs to be assessed by this court in default of agreement.”

She said FIFA has 21 days to file a defence.

Speaking with Newsday on Thursday afternoon, a hopeful Wallace said, “This is definitely significant progress because it has given us a chance to be heard which is all we wanted in the first place – to be heard.”

Asked if he believes FIFA would be able to come up with an effective defence, he said, “I don’t have a clue (what they would try). I don’t see any possibility of a defence. From what I said, I think we have a very good case.”

He also commended his attorneys for their hard work.

TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy shared similar sentiments, saying regardless of it being a small victory, it is still worth celebrating.

“It is a good day. It is the first half of the match – and there is a second half – because the court has said we can hear the case here but now we have to win the case. And beyond that, it is a massive statement in the sense of our national sovereignty and democracy.

“The depiction that FIFA could just do what it wants and disrespect local courts, local law, the constitution of local associations – the court has said it cannot do this and that the rule of law must be upheld and it stands in the defence of the TTFA in that regard.”

He said he believes this case has the potential to become a landmark case in not only local but international sports law.

“There’s no doubt about that. I’ve always said it, I’ve taken some heat and some blows for saying that but it is a fact...It is a huge case.

“Right now, FIFA could just do what it wants with the normalisation committee and if they don’t like the shape of your head, they could remove you. But the problem is that nobody has ever fought FIFA. (In some people’s minds) we were not supposed to fight, we were supposed to pick up, say we can’t fight FIFA and walk away.”

Newsday tried to contact Hadad but all calls and messages went unanswered.

This story was originally published with the title "Wallace hopeful as judge rules case against FIFA can proceed locally" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

OUSTED TT Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as Justice Carol Gobin has denied FIFA’s request to have the ongoing dispute remitted back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The case can now proceed locally.

Wallace and his executive challenged FIFA’s decision on March 17 to remove the TTFA executive and implement a normalisation committee.

On May 18, the former TTFA executive decided to take the matter to the TT High Court, instead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), since they felt they would not get a fair hearing at the Switzerland-based CAS.

FIFA then challenged this move.

But on Thursday, Gobin ruled: “The application for the stay of proceedings is refused…The defendant is ordered to pay the claimants costs to be assessed by this court in default of agreement.”

FIFA has 21 days to file a defence.

Speaking with Newsday, Wallace said, “This is definitely significant progress because it has given us a chance to be heard which is all we wanted in the first place – to be heard.”

Asked if he believes FIFA would be able to come up with an effective defence, he said, “I don’t have a clue (what they would try). I don’t see any possibility of a defence. From what I said, I think we have a very good case.”

He commended his attorneys Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul for their hard work.

TTFA v FIFA to take place on local soil.
By Jada Loutoo (Newsday).


THE TT Football Association’s (TTFA) challenge of FIFA’s appointment of a normalisation committee to run the affairs of the sport locally and the ouster of the William Wallace-led executive will play out on local soil.

In a ruling, on Thursday, Justice Carol Gobin dismissed FIFA’s application to have the TTFA’s complaint heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Gobin rejected FIFA’s application to strike out the claim because its rules prevents member federations and associations from commencing proceedings against it in their local courts.

“I do not think that arbitration would be the appropriate forum for the resolution of this dispute. This case goes well beyond TTFA’s alleged governance issues and the justifiability of FIFA’s purported action in appointing the normalisation committee.

“This is about the legitimacy of powers exercised under Article 8(2) of the FIFA Statutes and its consistency with a law passed by legislators in this country. This is a matter which falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the High Court of this country. This is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports,” Gobin said in her decision which was delivered electronically.

On May 18, the ousted TTFA executive, through its attorneys Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul, decided to take the matter against FIFA to the TT High Court instead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The TTFA executives felt they would not get a fair hearing at CAS.

The Wallace-led executive was removed from office by FIFA on March 17 after less than four months in the job.

The former executive was replaced by a normalisation committee led by local businessman Robert Hadad. The committee was formed to run the affairs of local football, including getting rid of the $50 million debt facing the local football body. In response to the legal action, FIFA challenged the ousted TTFA executive’s move to have the case heard at the High Court.

In her ruling, Gobin also held that because TTFA was a statutory corporation, it could not oust the jurisdiction of the local courts. She pointed out that the TTFA Act and its constitution established a “comprehensive governance structure within the organisation.”

“A normalisation committee appointed by FIFA is not on the face of it an organ recognised under that structure,” she said, adding, “FIFA may yet have to justify its purported assumption of extraordinary power to control the day to day affairs of TTFA, including authority to review and amend its statutes and to organise and conduct elections of a new TTFA executive committee for a four-year mandate.”

She further held that the question for the court as the litigation progresses will be whether the TTFA can contract out of the TTFA Act to give FIFA the power to control its day-to-day affairs or whether the local body’s contractual undertakings are subject to TT laws.

On the question of arbitration, which the ousted TTFA executive has refused to agree to, Gobin said there was “an inherent contradiction in the FIFA’s purported appointment of a normalisation committee, the purpose of which has been to usurp the powers and functions of the executive of the TTFA on the one hand, and its insistence on holding the TTFA to the arbitration agreement on the other.”

“The claimant properly asks the question, whom FIFA holds to that agreement. In other words, if FIFA disputes the authority of Mr. Wallace and others to act on behalf of TTFA, and TTFA is under the control of the normalisation committee, how does it reconcile that with its insistence that these very persons who have no authority to file these court should commence arbitration proceedings in Switzerland?

“The arbitration process cannot be triggered if there is a dispute as to the capacity of one of the parties to invoke the process and to bind TTFA to any outcome,” she said.

On FIFA’s arguments on the cost of arbitration at the CAS – it suggested that the TTFA could have applied for legal aid – Gobin said “not only has FIFA unequivocally refused to comply with” the CAS rules on the payment of advanced costs, it thumbed its nose at its obligations to pay under the agreement and “further paralysed the arbitral process by obtaining an extension of time to answer the case until after TTFA paid its (FIFA’s) costs.

“This together with the refusal to recognise the board of directors was sufficient to establish a wider pattern of repudiatory conduct and, in the circumstances of this case, I find that the refusal to pay the advance costs rendered the arbitration inoperable. The stay of proceedings would not have been granted in the circumstances,” the judge said.

Before disposing of the matter, Gobin also addressed the warning by FIFA’s local attorneys of the “severe consequences to which TTFA is exposed as a consequence of taking action in direct breach of the terms of its membership of FIFA.”

FIFA’s lead counsel Christopher Hamel-Smith warned that the breach of the rules left the TTFA susceptible to suspension from the world body’s membership which would directly impact TT as the various national teams will no longer be allowed to enter international tournaments and matches.

Hamel-Smith warned that a suspension would compromise the careers, livelihood, education and other prospects for players.

“These are no doubt serious concerns. FIFA has been clear on its objective to control every type of association football by taking appropriate steps to prevent infringements of the statutes, regulations or decisions of FIFA or of the laws of the game.

“This case has disclosed that among the mechanisms by which it achieves its goals is to dictate that member association’s rules are consistent with its statutes and that they (the associations) adopt stringent rules to enforce them. FIFA also insists on rules which prohibit or limit access to municipal courts.”

She held she was confident that FIFA believed the statutes and mechanism it used to enforce them were compliant with the laws of the countries to which member associations belong and “FIFA could not presume to be above the law.”

As for the concerns about irreparable fallout or adverse consequences to TT’s football on the international state, Gobin said she was encouraged by the “lofty objects” identified in FIFA’s statutes and particularly its commitment to respecting internationally recognised human rights and non-discrimination of any kind against a country for any reason.

“I do not expect FIFA to walk off the field or to take its ball and go home if after full ventilation of the issues, this court were to confirm the primacy of an Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over the FIFA Statutes,” she said.

FIFA was ordered to pay the TTFA executive’s costs as she also extended the time for filing of its defence.

Also appearing for FIFA were Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie.

Trinidad and Tobago teeter on brink of ban and 2022 exclusion after judge rules local law trumps FIFA’s
By Paul Nicholson (Insideworldfootball).


Trinidad and Tobago High Court judge Carol Gobin has ruled against FIFA’s application to dismiss a lawsuit brought against it by former TTFA board members over their replacement with a normalisation committee.

This was a ruling over whether jurisdiction should be with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, as FIFA argued, or whether it was an issue for the T&T courts – whether the TTFA is subject to national law over and above FIFA’s statutes, even if those statues had been recognised by the TTFA when it joined the organisation.

The impact for football in Trinidad and Tobago will be far reaching and potentially immediate if FIFA choose to move towards banning the TTFA. If a ban happened before next week then Trinidad and Tobago would be removed from the draw for the World Cup qualifiers, hence ending chance of going to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 before a ball was kicked.

Also upcoming is the draw for 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup as well as various age group competitions and women’s competitions. If banned Trinidad would not be included in any of them with no senior team likely to be seen participating in any major international championship until qualifiers begin for the 2023 Gold Cup – assuming they are reinstated by then.

Judge Gobin referenced this in her judgement saying:  “I do not expect FIFA to walk off the field or to take its ball and go home if after full ventilation of the issues, this court were to confirm the primacy of an Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over the FIFA Statutes.”

FIFA had already warned that it could implement sanctions, potentially immediately. On a simple, if neither the ousted TTFA board or the Trinidad and Tobago government are prepared to respect FIFA’s statutes then how can they expect to play in FIFA or Concacaf’s competitions against other countries that have signed up to those codes – whether they like them or not.

Perhaps more importantly in an FA that has shown itself too often to be more motivated by money than football, how can it hold its begging bowl for FIFA’s money – realistically the only chance it has of clearing debt built up over a number of years and for which the ousted TTFA officials had shown no credible plan of eliminating, but had only added to in their short three months at the helm.

One option mooted two months ago to Insideworldfootball was that it might make more sense to shut the existing TTFA down completely, leave the individuals personally responsible for the debt mountain and start a new federation from scratch.

FIFA will not want to go to court – even though they would probably like to expose the corruption within football in this twin island republic – as on a practical level it potentially opens them up to national litigation from any other federation that refuses to accept its decisions. The legal costs could potentially bankrupt the world governing body.

What looks most likely is that there will be a discussion between FIFA and the ousted TTFA board with a compromise sought. However, it is unlikely that there will much movement from FIFA’s side. The FIFA Ethics investigations that are currently ongoing into the former TTFA board regarding the multiple corruption allegations (from election fraud to contract and financial fraud) will likely be a determinant in any negotiation and, perhaps unfortunately, prevent any full airing in the Trinidad courts.

Locally Judge Gobin’s decision is being hailed as a major victory for the country. “…it is a massive statement in the sense of our national sovereignty and democracy,” said TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy told local news service Newsday. Look Loy, the puppet master behind the administration of former TTFA president William Wallace (pictured), continued: “The depiction that FIFA could just do what it wants and disrespect local courts, local law, the constitution of local associations – the court has said it cannot do this and that the rule of law must be upheld and it stands in the defence of the TTFA in that regard.”

While it seems pretty unlikely that FIFA have any burning ambition to run the Trinidad and Tobago government or its judiciary (Trinidad and Tobago obtained independence in 1962), it is clear that football’s patience is wearing thin and ultimately time is running out for players in the country who now look like losing any opportunity of playing for their country and potentially moving into the professional game in more serious football nations and leagues.

Judge Gobin gave FIFA 21 days to file a defence against the claim that it illegally introduced a Normalisation Committee. While Look Loy says that there is now a second half to this game to be played, as the top coach and football guru in his country he will also be aware that the best form of defence is very often attack. FIFA’s might be nuclear in a country whose judiciary is still protecting world Football’s Most Wanted, former Concacaf president Jack Warner, who five years after being indicted in the FIFAgate scandal is still avoiding extradition to the US to face multiple bribery, corruption and money laundering allegations.

« Last Edit: August 14, 2020, 12:45:58 PM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline FF

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #558 on: August 14, 2020, 03:31:13 PM »
Paul Nicholson articles read like something from the current White House press office  :rotfl:
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline pull stones

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #559 on: August 14, 2020, 11:10:07 PM »
i say expect a ban as soon as monday, tuesday for the latest. badmind gianni will not allow his ego to digest this blatant act of insubordination, him and his third world minions.

Offline ABTrini

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #560 on: August 15, 2020, 02:07:14 PM »
FI FA can fire truck off  and  go

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #561 on: August 16, 2020, 05:59:56 PM »
TTFA in danger of FIFA sanctions — Harris.
T&T Guardian Reports.


Caribbean Football Union (CFU) boss, Randy Harris, believes Trinidad and Tobago Football Association will face sanction from FIFA, following the landmark decision handed down in the High Court here this week against the powerful world governing body.

While stressing that he did not speak on the behalf of the Zurich-based organisation, Barbadian Harris indicated that there was precedent for action against the TTFA, as FIFA often tried to discourage member associations from legal disputes.

“I can’t really speak for FIFA but normally that would be the case – suspension of the member association,” said Harris, also a vice-president of the continental governing body, CONCACAF.

“FIFA can make that decision of suspension but it is up to the congress to decide if they would agree with that suspension or not. But I believe that some action will be taken against Trinidad and Tobago.

“I’m hoping that won’t be the case because this is the first time such a decision has been made in the football world and we will all wait to see how FIFA deals with the matter.”

In a landmark 24-page ruling this week, Madam Justice Carol Gobin concluded that arbitration was not the “appropriate forum” for the settlement of the ongoing dispute.

The ruling was a blow to FIFA’s bid to have the dispute with the TTFA heard by the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“This is a matter which falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the High Court of this country. This is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports,” the court said.

Harris, the president of the Barbados Football Association, told i95FM Sports on Thursday that the ruling would resonate among member associations especially since it impacted the established system of governance enforced by FIFA.

“But I can tell you, this is a big, big decision in the football world because all of the MAs (member associations) affiliated to FIFA, is at this time believing they play under the FIFA statutes and their governance,” Harris explained.

“And this plays a different tune so we will wait and see what FIFA has to say about and of course I hope that everything runs well for Trinidad and Tobago.”

He continued: “This decision really turns this over on their heads because all the MAs in FIFA are of the opinion that we follow the FIFA statutes and abide by the rules and regulations of FIFA. FIFA is the world football [governing] body but of course, we are independent nations.

“I have not read the full judgement but I will wait and see how this pans out now for the other MAs playing under FIFA’s jurisdiction.”

The dispute was triggered last March after FIFA swooped down to disband the TTFA executive and appoint a normalisation committee to run the association.

Ousted president William Wallace and his three vice-presidents attempted to challenge the decision before CAS but withdrew their case after contending that FIFA was thwarting the process.

Harris said because of the landmark nature of the ruling, the response of FIFA would now be a critical turning point in the matter.

“I wouldn’t look at it as weakening FIFA because FIFA can never be bigger than the governance of a country,” Harris pointed out.

“I think this matter of not taking [footballing] matters to the ordinary courts is a situation that FIFA introduced to prevent the going and to court action and I think that they were satisfied that they have the regulations to deal with matters where they are disputes.

“This, as I say, is the first time that the statutes have been challenged in this way and we should wait and see what FIFA’s reaction to it will be.”

(CMC)

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #562 on: August 16, 2020, 08:50:23 PM »
Mr. Harris, we go take  it like men. f   k fifa.

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #563 on: August 17, 2020, 09:06:31 AM »
Wallace ‘extremely happy’ with Fifa judgment, but ready to face backlash—if necessary.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace said he was ‘extremely happy’ but also wary, after a significant triumph today in his case against the world governing body, Fifa.

“All we wanted was a chance to be heard, and if this is the first step towards that then I am extremely happy,” Wallace told Wired868. “I won’t be shouting and saying hoorah though… We are just waiting to see what happens now.

“There are 21 days [for Fifa to file a defence against the TTFA’s substantive case in the High Court], so we are waiting to see if Fifa proceeds or not.”

Wallace and TTFA vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip are challenging Fifa’s decision to remove them from their elected positions on 17 March—just four months into their respective terms—and put a normalisation committee, headed by Robert Hadad, in their place.

Fifa, headed by president Gianni Infantino, asked the Port of Spain High Court to either dismiss Wallace’s application or force them to instead take their battle to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Fifa is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

Today, Justice Carol Gobin refused on both points and ordered Fifa to pay the legal costs for the TTFA officials’ attorneys, after the former’s failed manoeuvre.

The TTFA is represented legally by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul while Fifa was represented in the High Court action by attorneys Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie.

Wallace and company are operating under the threat of a Fifa suspension by daring to take the world’s most powerful individual sport body to court. But the besieged TTFA president said his group made a measured effort to spare local football from possible backlash.

“We have always said from the outset that, if this resulted in a personal ban from Fifa, we are prepared to accept that,” said Wallace. “We also calculated that the risk of the country getting banned was pretty low. What we did is we took up this matter as elected individuals rather than as the TTFA—so we did not draw the TTFA into the case in essence but acted as elected members who were unfairly removed from office.

“That is why all the funding used in the case was from personal funds and not from the TTFA’s coffers. So if there is to be a ban, it would be on us as individuals.”

During Hamel-Smith’s submissions, he told the High Court of ‘severe consequences to which the TTFA is exposed as a consequence of taking action in direct breach of the terms of its membership of Fifa’ and warned that suspension from the governing body would deny national teams from participating in tournaments and ‘compromise the careers, livelihood, education and other prospects for players’.

Justice Gobin responded that Fifa might be violating its own statutes to ban the TTFA and the blame for such action could not placed on the local officials.

“As for the concerns about irreparable fallout or adverse consequences to TTFA and Trinidad and Tobago, I am encouraged by the lofty objectives identified in Fifa statutes,” stated Justice Gobin, “and particularly articles (3) and (4) of Fifa’s commitment to respecting internationally recognised human rights, non-discrimination of any kind against a country for any reason and its commitment to promoting friendly relations in society for humanitarian objectives all of which are underpinned by an appreciation for the rule of law.

“I do not expect Fifa to walk off the field or to take its ball and go home if after full ventilation of the issues, this court were to confirm the primacy of an Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over the Fifa Statutes.”

A key point in the legal tussle was the TTFA’s decision to withdraw from the CAS. Wallace argued that the CAS showed bias towards its Swiss neighbours while Fifa argued that the former Carapichaima East Secondary vice-principal had been too hasty in abandoning their challenge there.

Again, Justice Gobin ruled in favour of the TTFA officials on that point. Wallace said he felt vindicated.

“The judge spoke about Fifa’s decision not to pay its share of fees to CAS,” said Wallace. “That to me was just basically putting us in a position where we would be forced to drop the matter. So I am happy we got justice somewhere else.

“[…] It was interesting to also note that the judge gave a couple comments which gave insight into the case, when she spoke to Fifa having to prove that setting up a normalisation committee is not going against its own statutes in allowing member countries to run its own affairs. That was quite, quite interesting.”

Wallace’s issues since 17 March have not been solely related to Fifa, as was criticised by even his vice-presidents over the handling of contracts given to marketing manager Peter Miller, Soca Warriors head coach Terry Fenwick and general secretary Ramesh Ramdhan.

Last month, he resigned his post as Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president after disquiet regarding the aforementioned deals.

However, Wallace hopes that this case can still be a positive turning point for the local game.

“I know that there was concern out there about this case from stakeholders and still is,” said Wallace, “but there comes a time when you have to stand up for something; and I am hoping that, at the end of the day, whatever results from this makes Trinidad and Tobago’s football stronger—and possibly world football too.

“We thank God for this.”

RELATED NEWS

Justice Gobin: ‘Fifa could not presume to be above the law’! Infantino-led body accused of ‘thumbing nose’ at fair play in TTFA attack.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Madame Justice Carol Gobin handed down a comprehensive defeat to global football body, Fifa, in the Port of Spain High Court today, in a decision that is likely to be read closely across the planet.

The TTFA was represented legally by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul of the New City Chambers. Fifa was represented by attorneys Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie from M Hamel-Smith and Co.

On 17 March, the Bureau of the Fifa Council—headed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino—ordered a normalisation committee in Trinidad and Tobago and declared that Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace, vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip, as well as its board of directors had been immediately replaced.

Wallace and his vice-presidents have resisted the ruling in the local High Court. However, Fifa urged the High Court to accede to arbitration clauses in the constitution of both football bodies and instead send the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), or dismiss the TTFA’s case outright.

Justice Gobin did neither. Instead, she ruled that Fifa’s conduct in its implementation of the normalisation committee was a violation of its statutes while its behaviour in relation to the TTFA rendered the arbitration clause ‘inoperable’.

Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura said repeatedly that the governing body does not recognise Wallace and his vice-presidents as the representatives of the TTFA and only considers normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad as the head of the local game.

How then, Justice Gobin asked in her 24-page ruling, can Fifa logically recognise Wallace’s authority before the CAS?

“There is an inherent contradiction in the Fifa’s purported appointment of a normalisation committee, the purpose of which has been to usurp the powers and functions of the executive of the TTFA on the one hand,” stated the High Court judge, “and its insistence on holding the TTFA to the arbitration agreement on the other. The Claimant properly asks the question: ‘whom does FIFA hold to that agreement’.

“In other words, if Fifa disputes the authority of Mr Wallace and others to act on behalf of TTFA, and TTFA is under the control of the normalisation committee—how does it reconcile that with its insistence that these very persons who have no authority to file these court [documents] should commence arbitration proceedings in Switzerland?

“The arbitration process cannot be triggered if there is a dispute as to the capacity of one of the parties to invoke the process and to bind TTFA to any outcome.

“[…] By its challenge to the authority of persons to bring this action, in which proceedings were signed by the President, Mr Wallace and the board of directors named in the arbitration proceedings, the arbitration was rendered inoperable.”

The High Court further ruled that Fifa had ‘not demonstrated that it is ready and willing to do all things necessary to the proper conduct of the arbitration’.

Wallace initially sought to defend his position at the CAS, only to withdraw citing bias from the Swiss-based arbitration body. Justice Gobin was not satisfied with Fifa’s behaviour at the CAS either.

The judge pointed to Fifa’s refusal to pay its share of arbitration fees upfront as well as the CAS’ decision to allow the governing body an extension to file its answer until after the TTFA paid fees for both parties.

“In its interpretation and application of the rules, the [CAS] court office effectively denied access to the prescribed method of achieving dispute resolution to the undeniably weaker of the parties,” stated Justice Gobin. “Fifa was at all times aware of the dire state of the TTFA’s finances, which predated the installation of the new Board of Directors in office in November 2019.

“Rules which were intended to level the playing field, in the words of the Privy Council allowed ‘the strong to push the weak to the wall’ (Janet Boustany v George Pigott Co, Antigua and Barbuda [1993] UKPC).

“[…] In this case, not only has Fifa unequivocally refused to comply with the CAS 64.2 rule, thumbing its nose at its obligations to pay under the agreement, it further paralysed the arbitral process by obtaining an extension of time to answer the case until after TTFA paid its (Fifa’s) costs.

“This together with the refusal to recognise the [TTFA] Board of Directors was sufficient to establish a wider pattern of repudiatory conduct and in the circumstances of this case I find that the refusal to pay the advance costs rendered the arbitration inoperable.

“The stay of proceedings would not have been granted in the circumstances.”

Fifa’s attorneys had argued that, although the TTFA’s Constitution did not expressly grant power to the world governing body to override its affairs, this was irrelevant since the local football body agreed to conduct its affairs in accordance with Fifa mandates. As such, they argued that Fifa’s Statutes trumped the TTFA’s Constitution.

However, Justice Gobin pointed to article 19 of the Fifa Statutes:

1. Each member association shall manage its affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.

2. A member association’s bodies shall be either elected or appointed in that association. A member association’s statutes shall provide for a democratic procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the election or appointment.

3. Any member association’s bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with the provisions of par 2, even on an interim basis, shall not be recognised by FIFA.

4. Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with par 2 shall not be recognised by Fifa.

“Fifa may yet have to justify its purported assumption of extraordinary power to control the day to day affairs of TTFA,” stated Justice Gobin, “including authority to review and amend its statutes and to organise and conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate.

“This appears to be in breach of FIFA Statute 19.2.”

And, crucially, Justice Gobin ruled that Fifa had no right to deprive its member associations of the right to seek determination from its local courts.

“Had Parliament intended to enact Fifa Statutes so as to oust the jurisdiction of the courts and to effectively deprive the TTFA of access to the courts of this country, it would have had to do so expressly in clear and unambiguous terms,” stated the High Court. “[…] The dispute in this case falls under Article 67 of TTFA’s Constitution under which TTFA agreed to subscribe to the exclusive jurisdiction of CAS. A statutory corporation which is empowered to make rules for its operations goes too far when it makes rules or adopt rules which foreclose access to the courts of the country.

“Moreover it is outwith the jurisdiction of an entity incorporated under our legislation to agree to submit to foreign law as Fifa Statutes prescribe… Fifa could not presume to be above the law.”

Justice Gobin further stated that Fifa’s attempted ‘ouster clause’ for local courts was insufficient to deny its application by member associations. She pointed to Lord Reid’s ruling in Anisminic v Foreign Compensation Commission HL [1969] 2 AC 147, which said:

“It is a well-established principle that a provision ousting the ordinary jurisdiction of the court must be construed strictly, meaning I think, that if such a provision is reasonably capable of having two meanings, that meaning shall be taken which preserve the ordinary jurisdiction of the courts.”

A key point by Fifa is that the CAS is the best venue to determine whether the governing body was justified in intervening in the TTFA’s internal affairs.

However, Justice Gobin did not agree that this was a matter of justifying Fifa intervention at all. For her, it was a case of if Fifa had the right to intervene in the first place, through the implementation of a normalisation committee.

“I do not think that arbitration would be the appropriate forum for the resolution of this dispute,” stated Justice Gobin. “This case goes well beyond TTFA’s alleged governance issues and the justifiability of Fifa’s purported action in appointing the Normalisation Committee. This is about the legitimacy of powers exercised under Article 8.2 of the Fifa Statutes and its consistency with a law passed by legislators in this country.

“This is a matter which falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the High Court of this country. This is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports.”

Justice Gobin noted Fifa’s threats to take draconian action to the detriment of the local game.

Hamel-Smith told the High Court that Wallace’s use of the local courts ‘renders TTFA susceptible to be suspended from Fifa’s membership—aside from the direct implications for TTFA such as suspension will impact the country of Trinidad and Tobago whose various nationals teams will no longer be allowed to partake in international tournaments and matches. This compromises the careers, livelihood, education and other prospect for players’.

However, Justice Gobin suggested that Fifa would be in violation of its own humanitarian goals if it took such an action against Trinidad and Tobago’s football.

“As for the concerns about irreparable fallout or adverse consequences to TTFA and Trinidad and Tobago, I am encouraged by the lofty objectives identified in Fifa statutes,” stated Justice Gobin, “and particularly articles (3) and (4) of Fifa’s commitment to respecting internationally recognised human rights, non-discrimination of any kind against a country for any reason and its commitment to promoting friendly relations in society for humanitarian objectives all of which are underpinned by an appreciation for the rule of law.

“I do not expect Fifa to walk off the field or to take its ball and go home if after full ventilation of the issues, this court were to confirm the primacy of an Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over the Fifa Statutes.”

Justice Gobin granted Fifa a 21-day extension to file a defence to the TTFA’s injunction against its normalisation committee. However, Fifa’s application for stay and all other aspects of its application was dismissed.

Fifa was also ordered to ‘pay the claimants costs to be assessed by this court in default of agreement’.

Infantino, according to football sources, vowed, beforehand, to convene the Bureau of the Fifa Council immediately after the High Court decision to consider action against Wallace, his vice-presidents and the TTFA—if he did not get his way.

The Fifa Bureau is its emergency committee and includes Infantino and presidents of its six confederations, including Concacaf.

On Wednesday 19 August, Concacaf will hold its draw for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying schedule. A Fifa suspension over the coming days would automatically rule the Soca Warriors out of the draw.

Infantino’s legal problems are in no way restricted to the TTFA. Two weeks ago, Swiss special prosecutor Stefan Keller initiated a criminal investigation against the Fifa president as result of secret meetings between the football jefe and Switzerland Attorney General Michael Lauber.

Keller, who was appointed on 29 June by the Supervisory Authority for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), found enough evidence to indict Infantino, Lauber and Chief Public Prosecutor Rinaldo Arnold on abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy and assisting offenders—which are article 312, 320 and 305 of the Swiss Criminal Code respectively.

Wallace wins in High Court, Fifa application dismissed as seismic case remains in Trinidad.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


If Fifa wants to defend its implementation of a normalisation committee in Trinidad and Tobago, the world governing body will have to do so in the Port of Spain High Court.

Today, Justice Carol Gobin dismissed Fifa’s application to move its case with Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace and his vice-presidents to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and also refused to stay proceedings between the two parties.

Justice Gobin also ordered Fifa to pay the TTFA’s legal costs.

The result is arguably a vindication of Wallace’s decision and that of his vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip to leave the CAS. However, it might come at a cost. Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura warned previously that Fifa will not continue with the case, should the TTFA win at this stage, and will instead implement sanctions.

Fifa statutes give the world governing body the authority to suspend the TTFA from all international competition and/or impose sanctions on the officials who launched legal proceedings.

The TTFA is represented legally by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul of the New City Chambers.

Fifa was represented in the unsuccessful High Court action by attorneys Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie from M Hamel-Smith and Co.

The decision by the Port of Spain High Court further dents the credibility of Fifa’s normalisation committee in the twin island republic, which is headed by Robert Hadad and also includes deputy chairperson Judy Daniel and ordinary member Nigel Romano.

The Fifa Bureau of the Council announced a normalisation committee in Trinidad and Tobago on 17 March—a decision that immediately annulled the election of Wallace and his vice-presidents just four months earlier.

Fifa said its decision was based on concerns regarding the financial management of the local football body, although Wallace countered that the move was politically motivated.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #564 on: August 17, 2020, 09:27:25 AM »
In a world (cup) of their own. Will Trinidad be left playing Tobago?
By Paul Nicholson (insideworldfootball)


The fate of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2020 World Cup qualifying campaign currently looks to be laying in the hands of a Port of Spain High Court judge rather than at the feet of a team on the pitch.

Yesterday Judge Carol Gobin conducted a four-hour virtual hearing that will decide whether a case brought by the former Trinidad and Tobago FA board saw them illegally removed from office by a FIFA Normalisation committee.

FIFA argue that the complaint should be either dismissed or referred back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In essence it is a pretty clear case of who has jurisdiction over football on the islands. The one thing that former president William Wallace and his former vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip – all replaced by the Normalisation Committee – can guarantee is that FIFA will not back down. One wonders if they fully understand this and what will happen should they win their case.

Well, it isn’t difficult to work out. FIFA would likely suspend the TTFA, and that would mean no team in 2022 World Cup qualification that starts in three months. After all, if you refuse to recognise the governing body’s role of governing the game, how can you expect to play in its competition? Would they respect those rules even? As one person put it, at this rate Trinidad will be playing Tobago…

FIFA removed Wallace and his crew – and it extends beyond the named parties in the court case – following real concern about the financial management of what was already a financially beleaguered TTFA. After three months Wallace had no believable plan, no bank account (the court froze it), and no money. Staff were unpaid, few teams were playing, and one of his first acts had been to close the only asset the TTFA had, the newly opened House of Football.

More importantly, Wallace had no relationship with the governing body nor seemed to make any attempt to create one. The view of Wallace and his people seemed to be that the FIFA grants were handouts that came with no strings attached and were their birthright. Wallace had fastracked the TTFA into financial oblivion.

What Wallace did have was a series of highly dubious and in some cases fabricated sponsorship promises that propelled his team and their buddies through the election and to power. He also had the prospect of a cut of a land development deal around the Arima Velodrome – property developer or football federation? The Arima questions remain unanswered but point towards the type of personal enrichment scam that Trinidad knows only too well (Football’s Most Wanted, former Concacaf president Jack Warner, still owns the FIFA financed Concacaf Centre of Excellence complex – allegedly a gift to Warner).

All these issues have been covered in Insideworldfootball in recent months – neither Wallace nor his cohorts have responded to questions or answered them adequately in their preferred and unequivocally supportive local media. It is a sad – some might say dishonest – indictment of both. Dishonest is a word that has been used to describe Insideworldfootball when it broke many of these stories, but really, who is the dishonest media here? The Wallace contracts have been there to see, from forged letters of support, to dodgy kit deals,  to dubious and untransparent contracts for land development. Wallace, his TTFA board and his national team coach Terry Fenwick had become a gift that keep on giving for media.

And then there is always the spectre of Warner in a country whose judicial system has steadfastedly protected him from extradition to the US to face multiple corruption charges from bribery to embezzlement to money laundering. One wonders if it is that example that motivated Wallace’s team. After all, Warner got away with filching millions upon millions and members of Wallace’s team and backroom string pullers like Keith Look Loy are closely linked to Warner.

The one thing about Warner that does give him credit was that he genuinely loved football and wanted his islands to do well. However, it does bring to mind the judge’s comment in the Harry Redknapp case when he learned that he had a dog with a Ł250K Monaco bank account. He said (paraphrased): “You say you loved your dog Mr Redknapp. I would love my dog too if it had a bank account in Monaco.” Jack appears to have accounts all over the Caribbean and perhaps it will take his removal from the Caribbean for football associations like the TTFA to understand that the football world has changed since 2015.

Wallace and co’s legacy for football in Trinidad and Tobago could turn out to be no football. But for them, was it ever really about football? Who knows, they never answer the big questions.

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FIFA’s Safe Caribbean Home: ‘The Caribbean Is A Vote Farm For FIFA – They Don’t Care About Our Football’
By Louis Young (worldfootballindex).


May 2020

n November 2019, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) democratically elected William Wallace as president, replacing David John-Williams.

Following a fact-finding mission into the operations of the TTFA, just four months into Wallace’s term, FIFA announced their decision to impose a normalisation committee which would run the TTFA’S daily affairs.

“The mission found that extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with massive debt, have resulted in the TTFA facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity,” said a FIFA statement.

“Such a situation is putting at risk the organisation and development of football in the country and corrective measures need to be applied urgently.”

One question directed towards FIFA following this action referred to their previous awareness of the TTFA’s financial woes, which have been public for many years. FIFA even froze the accounts of the previous administration, with David John-Williams as president, multiple times.

WFi‘s Louis Young spoke to Lasana Liburd who, along with other investigative journalists, co-authored the book Korruption im Sport which focused on the global phenomenon of corruption in sport.

Lasana is the founder and editor of Wired868 and has covered this story involving FIFA and the TTFA extensively.

Louis Young: Seeing as the financial woes of the TTFA have been public for a long time, why has FIFA suddenly taken the action to suspend a newly elected committee and impose a normalisation committee?

Lasana Liburd: “That would be a good question for Gianni Infantino, and it is for the FIFA bureau to answer really.

“It is true that the TTFA’s financial issues are not new at all. However, it is also true that the financial state the TTFA are in, is three times worse now due to the last administration that was run by David John-Williams, who voted for Infantino in 2016.

“You would say that the financial situation and the handling of the finances has been worse in the last administration, as opposed to this one which is only three months old.”

LY: Infantino and John-Williams had a lot of support from one another and had a fairly amicable relationship, is that right?

LL: “Yes, the relationship for those two dates back to when John-Williams became the first person from the Caribbean to announce support for Infantino.

“A week before the last TTFA election, Infantino was in Trinidad and announced John-Williams as his teammate and praised John-Williams for doing a great job, in his opinion, and asked Trinidad and Tobago to support John-Williams in the next election just a week later.”

LY: Do you feel FIFA has not approached this situation with the intentions of improving the football of the country?

LL: “Well, in the years before John-Williams was elected, Trinidad and Tobago went to two Gold Cup quarterfinals.

“The women’s national team came within a play-off match, away against Ecuador in 2014, from getting to the Women’s World Cup.

“There is no yardstick you can use that football in Trinidad and Tobago has improved in any way when every national team has gone backwards.

“When John-Williams was elected, we were 52nd in the World FIFA rankings and when he left, we were 106th.

“After he was elected, we set new records in every way, like longest period without scoring a goal, longest period without winning a match, longest losing streak…

“The only team we beat in 2019 was Anguilla, the worst-ranked team in football. So when people say that FIFA has not shown an interest in the football here, you’d have to agree. On the basis of these things here that would be the case.”

LY: The newly elected president, William Wallace, has signalled his intention to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), claiming this intervention by FIFA was unlawful and unwarranted. Can you talk me through what part of this intervention he and other members of the board find unlawful and unwarranted?

LL: “Well if you look at the FIFA statutes, for a member association to be suspended or expelled they have to go through the entire membership, which is made up 210 FIFA member associates.

“Implementing a normalisation committee is effectively wiping out the board of a members association. Somehow the seven-person FIFA bureau can decide that themselves.

“To me this is a violation of the spirit of the FIFA constitution. The statutes mean that all 210 members should be involved in the suspension of a country’s membership. So why does this FIFA bureau have this right? The clause is extremely broad regarding stepping into a country’s membership, so it allows them to step in almost at will, as long as Infantino can get three people around the table that agree with him.

“This is something other member associations and the world of football should look at, because this is too much power for Infantino to have.”

LY: From your perspective, and your own research on this topic, does the question become less about the financial operations of the TTFA, and more about the actions of Infantino? To what degree have Infantino’s actions in this situation crossed a line where it looks like a personal act against the TTFA?

LL: “CONCACAF has 35 member nations. That means 35 votes in FIFA. The Caribbean has 25 votes out of the 35 so we are by far the majority in CONCACAF.

“South America has less than half votes with only 10. The Caribbean itself has 25. Politically, we have seen the importance of the Caribbean to FIFA under Sepp Blatter, Joao Havelange, and so on.

“I believe that FIFA’s interest in the Caribbean is all that it has ever been. Votes. That is it. The Caribbean is a vote farm for FIFA and nothing more. They don’t care about football in the Caribbean, they never did. And certainly not under Infantino. That is why he would praise the work of a president of whose team is doing worse than it ever has in its history.

“I believe that when Infantino looks at the Caribbean, with a personal attachment one way or the other, I think that the relationship is strictly geopolitical. Votes.

“I think that the rest of the world looking at FIFA’s action here need to ask what exactly they want FIFA to be. We have seen FIFA’s image over the years and the cost of it.

“Do they want FIFA to treat a vital part in the world like Trinidad and Tobago like this, or do they want to focus on improving [the] sport?”

LY: Is part of the question regarding Infantino’s clear disrespect and lack of interest in progressing the football in the Caribbean, and specifically Trinidad and Tobago, related to the ‘Home of Football‘ FIFA wanted to build in Trinidad?

LL: “Well, the Home of Football is finished. It was Infantino who opened it. It is totally useless.

“It isn’t properly comforted or heated. It isn’t even properly insured. Infantino and [FIFA Vice-President Victor] Montagliani were posing on beds there, but right now it’s a sham and a joke.

“But going back to Infantino, as a journalist, I cannot be sanctioned for simply speaking my mind. When Blatter felt there was talk all over the world about the way he was able to run the body by giving large quantitates of money to member associations, that seemed like something that needed to be looked at.

“When Infantino was elected, he tripled the money that went to member associations without a clear oversight of what they did [with it]. I think this is most evident with Trinidad and Tobago, where the money has been spent, debt soared, but the team has not performed to the way they should. Yet he was happy with what was happening.

“I think one of the first things that Infantino did as president was close down the committee in charge of anti-racism. So in my personal view, there is a lot that Infantino needs to take account for in regards to his actions.

“Just look at the situation with Trinidad and Tobago and ask yourself the question: ‘Is Infantino the man to clean up football?’ It is Trinidad and Tobago today but it could be anyone tomorrow.”

LY: William Wallace has spoken about going to the CAS. How successful do you think Trinidad and Tobago could be in their appeal to revoke the decision?

LL: “Well I believe CAS is always weighted more towards member associations than individual teams, athletes, and member associations.

“Also, the FIFA statutes allow these far-reaching powers in the FIFA bureau to decide where a normalization committee goes. So I would say FIFA have the advantage, but it is certainly not impossible.

“Essentially, I don’t think Trinidad and Tobago can win this without the support of other member associations.

“Football does not belong to Infantino; it doesn’t belong to the seven people in the FIFA bureau, or the four people who voted against Trinidad and Tobago. It belongs to all member associations. And if people see this injustice in the same way as I do, then they need to go to Infantino and ask him what he is doing in the name of FIFA. Is this behaviour something the world wants to see continue?

“The least I would say is, let the 210 members decide whether Trinidad and Tobago’s election last November should stand or not.”

One significant conclusion to take from this situation is the power that has been displayed by FIFA, as well as the clear geopolitical investment Infantino has, specifically in the Caribbean region of CONCACAF.

As Lasana Liburd states, as long as Infantino can get three people around the table at the FIFA bureau to agree with him then, the FIFA statutes, as they are currently written, allow him to step into any member association he wants.

By implementing a normalization committee, FIFA have essentially signalled that they can remove an entire member association, manage their daily operations, and conduct new elections for them, without even consulting the 210 members.

We have to look at this action by Infantino and other member associations have to ask themselves; is Infantino the right man to clean up football?

Moreover, is this the sort of behaviour that we should just expect from the most powerful man in football governance?

« Last Edit: August 17, 2020, 09:35:00 AM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Thomo

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #565 on: August 17, 2020, 01:07:48 PM »
OK, so how soon do we expect to be banned from FIFA? Does anyone know?

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #566 on: August 17, 2020, 01:58:57 PM »
Ok. So Wallace claims that the chances of FIFA suspending the TTFA is low. His reasoning is that they presented the matter to the courts as elected individuals instead of the TTFA.

So this basically means that if the TTFA is suspended, the NC (which was formed by FIFA) will be suspended as well.. Which kind of confusing. Maybe the TTFA can argue that there is no reason for suspension because the "elected individuals" brought the matter to the courts. . Not the TTFA. Very confusing now.

I feel Wallace either know something, have some kind of trump card up he sleeve or just riding on hope. I "hope" it's not the latter.


Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #567 on: August 17, 2020, 02:03:26 PM »
OK, so how soon do we expect to be banned from FIFA? Does anyone know?

If they don't suspend us by Wednesday, then they might be looking at another date, or other options. The draw for regional qualifying for 2022 is on Wednesday. So it will make sense to remove the TTFA before the draw. Just my two cents

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #568 on: August 17, 2020, 04:58:28 PM »
From what I've been reading, if they do suspend the TTFA, it will be until the United TTFA agrees to provide whatever assistance is necessary and stay away from all affairs related to the NC
« Last Edit: August 17, 2020, 05:35:26 PM by gawd on pitch »

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #569 on: August 18, 2020, 04:41:50 AM »
It sounds like Infantino is using the NC to cover up the dirty tracks laid by himself and Mr you know who. . .

I wouldn't be surprised if the United TTFA has evidence of some wrong doing by DJW and Infantino. Infantino is currently being investigated, So the FIFA ethics committee may have the last say.

 

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