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Author Topic: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football  (Read 102803 times)

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Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #570 on: August 18, 2020, 05:17:40 PM »
Damned if they do, damned if they dont. .

If the TTFA is suspended, then FIFA/Infantino will look even more corrupt. Some reasons that might show this are:

- Last year Infantino applauded the work of DJW. He was was impressed at the DJW led creation of the HOF. .

- Infantino made no mention of the financial state the TTFA was in last year. It's only after his buddy was disposed by Wallace that the NC was implemented

- FIFA/Infantino was aware that DJW was hiding documents and information about financial transactions from the board. .(I believe Lok Loy informed FIFA about DJW through a letter last year).

In an ideal world, people will see what FIFA/Infantino is doing. Infantino is trying to protect DJW. Because, Infantino knows that DJW is cut throat and will throw his ass well under the bus when the sh*t hits the fan.

As I said before, the NC was implemented to clean up and cover up the work of DJW and Infantino. There is something there that the two of them trying to hide. It will come out soon. I'm sure that special prosecutor in Switzerland, who is leading the criminal investigation against Infantino, will be more than happy to hear Wallace out. Well at least lets hope so.


Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #571 on: August 18, 2020, 05:29:50 PM »
We eh get ban yet?

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #572 on: August 18, 2020, 06:36:01 PM »
Deeks I wondering that too. The Concacaf draw is tomorrow. It would make sense to implement the ban before the draw. So I ain't know. If the draw take place before and we aint get ban, then that might be a good sign.

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #573 on: August 19, 2020, 12:46:18 AM »
Look Loy: It’s half-time, United TTFA 1, Fifa 0; and we’re prepared for anything!
Wired868.com.


“[…] United TTFA was not cowed by Fifa arrogance and threat—an unprecedented response from a small association. We were supposed to walk. The normalisation committee was supposed to walk in and take over. And United TTFA was supposed to be history.

“But these ‘island people’ did not. We stood…”

In the following Letter to the Editor, United TTFA member and technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy contextualises the local football body’s stance against autocratic global football juggernauts, Fifa, and its implementation of a normalisation committee in Trinidad and Tobago:

Justice Carol Gobin’s ruling is a victory for the national sovereignty of Trinidad  and Tobago, and the authority of the local judicial system over legal matters that arise within this jurisdiction.

It is an historic statement that the untrammelled and unchallenged rule of Fifa in local jurisdictions across the globe is a travesty of law and civilised governance. Fifa’s power is not infinite.

This ruling bears global significance and implications, therefore, and it is the most important development in international sports law and football governance in decades. Football people are watching—particularly in Africa, where Fifa has assumed control of the confederation itself, CAF, and where governments and football people are chafing under Fifa’s autocratic rule.

I was never in doubt regarding the outcome of this case because the preponderance of case law and precedent weighed in United TTFA’s favour. Indeed, as far back as 1991 the High Court ruled in my favour against the SSFL; in support of my right to resort to local courts to resolve a dispute despite TTFA/Fifa proscription of same.

This, therefore, is an unprecedented victory, but thoroughly logical and expected. It was possible, however, only because United TTFA was not cowed by Fifa arrogance and threat—an unprecedented response from a small association.

We were supposed to walk. The normalisation committee was supposed to walk in and take over. And United TTFA was supposed to be history.

But these ‘island people’ did not. We stood.

Judge Gobin’s ruling now brings Fifa’s normalisation committee/CAS system and culture to the fore in world football. It places discussion of Fifa’s arbitrary use of a  weaponised normalisation committee and a biased CAS—as methods of political control over its membership—squarely on the table.

Currently, the imposition of a normalisation committee is not guided by criteria, and the powers of the committee are not limited by regulation. Indeed, this absence of limits allows the weaponised use of the normalisation committee to protect the personal and political interests of high Fifa officials.

When one observes recent developments in Switzerland involving the Fifa president, one understands the concern across the globe, inside and outside of football, that the manipulation of legal process and officials is endemic to Fifa’s legal and administrative culture.

The fact is, however, that United TTFA has only won the first half. There is a second half to be played, which will involve discussion of pre-United TTFA malpractice and Fifa’s role it.

I have always said this is the real reason behind the imposition of the normalisation committee: to cover up malpractice and to secure TTFA’s vote in Fifa’s global game.

Indeed, recent letters from high Fifa officials to the presidents of national associations across the globe—intended to rally support for embattled Gianni Infantino against criminal proceedings by the Swiss state—demonstrate the absolute necessity of securing his global voting bloc as protection against suspension by Fifa’s Ethics Committee.

United TTFA is ahead in a tough match against a ruthless opponent which has already indicated that if it ‘look like licks’ it will ‘mash up the match’.

In her wisdom, Justice Gobin challenged Fifa to avoid hypocrisy and live up to ‘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’.

Justice Gobin continued: “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.”

In other words, as a precautionary measure, she characterises any possible victimisation of TTFA as an issue of human rights and the rights of nation states.

United TTFA is prepared for the second half. We shall see how the habitual tough guy responds to such admonition from the referee.

And he is behind—not a position he is accustomed to being in.

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

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #574 on: August 19, 2020, 03:44:34 AM »
There are recourses against retaliation. Hopefully ego will sit in the back seat and commonsense will drive the vehicle.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 03:46:54 AM by asylumseeker »

Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #575 on: August 19, 2020, 10:22:55 AM »
There are recourses against retaliation. Hopefully ego will sit in the back seat and commonsense will drive the vehicle.

Whose ego ?

Offline Controversial

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #576 on: August 19, 2020, 01:16:02 PM »
If we field our best team, we can go to the WC...

But that’s never the issue, it’s always admin and politics.. the question is, will WW be able to run the org and get Fenwick to work

Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #577 on: August 19, 2020, 07:29:32 PM »
If we field our best team, we can go to the WC...

But that’s never the issue, it’s always admin and politics.. the question is, will WW be able to run the org and get Fenwick to work

Isn't Hadad running the show?

Offline Trini _2026

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #578 on: August 20, 2020, 10:22:34 AM »
Gianni Infantino: Fifa closes ethics violation case against president.
BBC Sports.


Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been cleared of violating the world governing body's regulations after a preliminary investigation by its ethics committee.

Infantino is the subject of a criminal investigation over an alleged secret meeting with Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber. Both deny wrongdoing.

Fifa said documents shared by the Swiss courts were scrutinised.

"No aspect of the conduct analysed constitutes a violation," it said.

"Some aspects do not even fall within the provisions of the Fifa code of ethics, or justify the adoption of any kind of measure, including that of a provisional suspension."

Earlier in August, in a letter to member associations, Infantino said any meetings were "in no way secret and most certainly not illegal".

However the Swiss admitted the criminal investigation had already "caused considerable damage to Fifa as an organisation and to myself as its president".

Infantino said the meetings with Lauber were broadly to discuss the fact the attorney general's office was investigating a series of criminal allegations in which Fifa was a damaged party.

Neither Lauber nor Infantino have been able to recollect the specific details of their final meeting in 2017.
« Last Edit: August 20, 2020, 12:33:28 PM by Flex »
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Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #579 on: August 20, 2020, 04:54:46 PM »
FIFA warn Trinidad and Tobago over High Court bid.
By Nick Said (uk.sports.yahoo).


(Reuters) - FIFA has warned Trinidad and Tobago they face suspension from international football if they pursue a dispute through the country's High Court in contravention of the world governing body's statutes.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and FIFA have been at loggerheads since March after the latter dissolved the executive of the cash-strapped association.

TTFA president William Wallace opposed this and initially took the case to FIFA’s only recognised body to hear disputes, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but withdrew the complaint citing concerns of bias.

"The insistence of the TTFA former leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally," FIFA warned in a statement on Thursday.

"The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action."

If the TTFA stick to their guns, the matter will be discussed at the virtual FIFA Congress that is set for Sept. 18, where the Caribbean nation would face suspension.

Trinidad and Tobago’s next competitive fixture is scheduled to be against Guyana on Oct. 8, the start of their qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

RELATED NEWS

FIFA adamant CAS must decide TTFA appeal.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


Despite having a judgement against them in the T&T's High Court in Port-of-Spain on August 13, football's world governing body FIFA remains adamant the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne Switzerland, will be the jurisdiction for the T&T Football Association for the right to appoint a Normalisation Committee to govern the affairs of football in the twin-island Republic.

It means, however, that T&T will be on the verge expected sanctions, should the CAS not be chosen to resolve the matter.

FIFA in March, replaced the United TTFA with a normalization committee, citing management flaws that were steering the association into insolvency, with no way to clearing its debt which FIFA estimated at US$37.4 million.

In its response on Thursday, FIFA has outlined 12 grounds for appeal which includes articles 67 of FIFA statutes which it states that (a) That provisions of Article 67 of the Respondent's Constitution were void and (b) It was outwith the jurisdiction of the Respondent, as an entity incorporated under Trinidad and Tobago legislation, to agree to submit to foreign law as FIFA statues prescribe.

However, during a seven-day period in which it had to decide on whether or not it was going to appeal, FIFA yesterday appealed the decision handed down by Justice Carol Gobin, which instructed that the matter would be heard in the High Court in T&T.

According to Gobin: “This matter is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports.”

In handing down her decision, Justice Gobin 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.”

According to FIFA yesterday: “This appeal is a formal step, and as football's world governing body, FIFA further insists that the only recognised path to resolve such a dispute is the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). The recognition of the CAS as the correct forum in which to hear the dispute is in accordance with the FIFA Statutes that all 211 FIFA member associations have agreed to, as well as in agreement with TTFA's own statutes on this matter.”

It added: “The insistence of the TTFA former leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of T&T football internationally.”

“The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action.”

William Wallace, president of the ousted TTFA which also includes vice presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip, responded to claims by the FIFA that the country faces sanction if the CAS is not the place for the resolution, saying the only reason they ended up at the High Court, was because they went to the CAS and received no corporation.

Meanwhile, according to a FIFA press release issued yesterday it stated:

"FIFA is today (Thursday) lodging an appeal against the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago High Court issued last week to proceed with a claim from the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) against the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council in March 2020 to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA.

This appeal is a formal step, and as football’s world governing body, FIFA further insists that the only recognised path to resolve such a dispute is the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). The recognition of the CAS as the correct forum in which to hear the dispute is in accordance with the FIFA Statutes that all 211 FIFA member associations have agreed to, as well as in agreement with TTFA’s own statutes on this matter.

The insistence of the TTFA former leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally.

The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action."

Wallace and his three vice presidents are also 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 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.

FIFA insists Trinidad and Tobago dispute has to be resolved at CAS.
FIFA.COM


FIFA is today lodging an appeal against the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago High Court issued last week to proceed with a claim from the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) against the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council in March 2020 to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA.

This appeal is a formal step, and as football’s world governing body, FIFA further insists that the only recognised path to resolve such a dispute is the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). The recognition of the CAS as the correct forum in which to hear the dispute is in accordance with the FIFA Statutes that all 211 FIFA member associations have agreed to, as well as in agreement with TTFA’s own statutes on this matter.

The insistence of the TTFA former leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally.

The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action.

RELATED FIFA NEWS

Gianni Infantino: FIFA ethics committee clears president of breaking regulations
Skysports.com


FIFA's ethics committee has cleared president Gianni Infantino of breaching the governing body's regulations after a preliminary investigation.

Infantino is the subject of a criminal investigation after the Swiss special federal public prosecutor opened proceedings last week over meetings Infantino held with the country's attorney general Michael Lauber in 2016 and 2017.

In a letter to national association bosses, Infantino said the meetings were broadly to discuss the fact Lauber's office was investigating a series of criminal allegations in which FIFA was a damaged party.

Neither Lauber nor Infantino have been able to recollect the specific details but both deny any wrongdoing.

FIFA said the documents shared by the Swiss courts were examined and that "no aspect of the conduct analysed constitutes a violation".

A FIFA statement read: "After examining the relevant documentation and evidence, the chairperson of the investigatory chamber has decided to file the complaint and close the case due to the evident lack of a prima facie case regarding any alleged breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

"Based on the information available to date, no aspect of the conduct analysed constitutes a violation of the FIFA regulations - some aspects do not even fall within the provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics, or justify the adoption of any kind of measure, including that of a provisional suspension."

The committee said some parts of the complaints did not "even fall within the provisions of the FIFA code of ethics, or justify the adoption of any kind of measure, including that of a provisional suspension".

Infantino was elected in 2016 to replace Sepp Blatter, who himself was the subject of criminal proceedings in 2015 and was banned from all FIFA activities by the ethics committee.

« Last Edit: August 20, 2020, 05:29:50 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 Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #580 on: August 20, 2020, 04:59:48 PM »
Crisis In Nigeria Football House: FIFA Ignores Supreme Court Ruling, Insists On Pinnick
Greenbarge Reporters


2018

The world football ruling body, FIF, has over-ruled Nigeria’s Supreme Court judgment by recognizing the embattled Pinnick Amaju as the authentic chairman of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The Supreme Court had, on June 5, set aside Pinnick’s election and recognized Giwa as substantive chairman of the Nigeria’s football clearing house.

In a letter, the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino insisted that Pinnick is the NFF chairman because he was the one duly elected.

”It is also clear to all within the family that there can be no interference in the running of the national federations by any party, especially those outside the football family.”

The FIFA President stressed that Nigeria as a member-association of FIFA, would be at the risk of facing the world body’s sanctions if the situation continue as it is now.

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 #581 on: August 20, 2020, 05:48:54 PM »
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been cleared of violating the world governing body's regulations after a preliminary investigation by its ethics committee.

Investigation by its own ethics committee. Yep!!!

Offline FF

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #582 on: August 20, 2020, 06:20:16 PM »
We have investigated ourselves and cleared ourselves of all wrongdoing
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #583 on: August 21, 2020, 06:23:06 AM »
We have investigated ourselves and cleared ourselves of all wrongdoing

Who investigate whom locally ?

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #584 on: August 21, 2020, 07:04:36 AM »
Ah need feedback on the following question: Is Andre Baptiste a journalist? Card-carrying member of MATT? Anything along those lines?

Just heard a rendition from him on i95.5 on this NC-FIFA/United TTFA matter that somewhat lacked in perspective and objectivity ... although I have to acknowledge that opinion was solicited from him.

I do not disagree with everything he stated but I am disappointed by the quality of the analysis and prognostication rendered. Sport is Baptiste's bailiwick and not Dale Enoch's, yet Enoch demonstrated a superior appreciation of the big picture.

Baptiste's fevered delivery stirs the pot.  Given his platform I would prefer balanced, measured and dispassionate analysis. A reactionary with a microphone stimulates reactions, but what else?

That stated, while I agree that there is a leadership vacuum in football, be an observer of the combat, not a combatant.

« Last Edit: August 21, 2020, 07:37:22 AM by asylumseeker »

Offline FF

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #585 on: August 21, 2020, 08:44:46 AM »
We have investigated ourselves and cleared ourselves of all wrongdoing

Who investigate whom locally ?

Deeks this is what FIFA statement boils down to. A similar sentiment is regularly expressed by Police departments accused of brutality in USA
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #586 on: August 21, 2020, 09:38:00 AM »
Justice not served.
By Ian Prescott (Express).


OSMOND DOWNER has raised the point that FIFA might have flouted its own rules in its hurried removal of the William Wallace-led Trinidad and Tobago Football Association executive last March.

Downer’s reaction came after Justice Carol Gobin’s ruling gave Wallace permission to challenge FIFA’s decision to dismiss his four-month-old executive without notice or a hearing. Downer felt that natural justice was not served and that FIFA might have broken its own statutes when unceremoniously making themselves TTFA bosses, through the appointment of a Normalisation Committee headed by local businessman Robert Hadad.

“One part of FIFA statutes states that the (FIFA) Council, for serious reasons, can remove the executive of an Association,” Downer stated, “That is the Council. Not this ‘Bureau’ that made this decision way up in March. It was only confirmed by the Council two weeks ago.”

Downer, the main fashioner of the TTFA constitution, questioned how a third party could come in and just remove the executive when the TTFA’s own constitution states those officers can only be removed by the “general meeting” which comprises all TTFA member representatives.

“Remember, this constitution was approved by FIFA,” Downer pointed out.

The former school principal and FIFA referees’ instructor also felt FIFA did not go about the process of removing the TTFA executive in just fashion.

“The removal of people such as president, and from national football association and so on, is a serious matter,” he said, “It is a dismissal of the person from a high office.

“In all, all democratic societies, the laws, courts recognise something called the law of natural justice. The removal of somebody from high office is a punishment. They are punished. The laws of all democratic countries recognise that nobody should be punished unless that person has a chance to state his or her case. That is fundamental in law. It is in the TTFA constitution and FIFA statutes.”

Downer continued: “The person must be informed of what they are charged. Secondly, the person must be given an opportunity to appear and defend him or herself. It is in the TTFA constitution and it is also in FIFA statutes. And that was not done here. It wasn’t done,

“The first time these officers knew they were dismissed is when they read it in the press. That was wrong; you must give the person a chance to say something in their defence. This wasn’t done.”

RELATED NEWS

Rulings Will Make FIFA Rethink Normalisation Committee – Stewart.
Jamaica Gleaner


Harbour View Football Club Chairman Carvel Stewart believes the chances of FIFA enacting a normalisation committee to take over operations of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in the future are low, after football’s global governing body suffered a major legal setback in their dispute with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Stewart’s comments come after last Thursday’s ruling which saw the Trinidad and Tobago (TT) High Court refuse FIFA’s request to elevate the legal dispute between FIFA and the TTFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision handed down by court justice Carol Gobin also denied FIFA’s request for a stay of proceedings, giving them 21 days from Thursday to file their defence.

The November election of TTFA’s executive body, led by President William Wallace, and FIFA’s subsequent implementation of its normalisation committee to manage TTFA’s affairs are at the heart of the dispute.

Stewart, who was vice-chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association, believes that should Jamaica face a similar situation, the ruling could set a precedent that would make FIFA rethink taking a similar stance.

“I suspect, quite frankly, that FIFA will now be hesitant in taking such a fundamental step as literally overthrowing an elected organisation and putting in a normalisation committee,” Stewart told The Gleaner.

In March, FIFA instituted the committee because of TTFA’s poor financial outlook, which they claimed they uncovered during a fact-finding mission with Concacaf and an independent auditor. However, the TTFA in a statement in May said that FIFA was abusing its power, and argued that the financial issues were caused by the outgoing administration.

An attempt at mediation in June was unsuccessful as FIFA withdrew from proceedings, saying that they did not recognise Trinidad’s legal process in the matter, and requested to be heard by CAS.

Stewart described the ruling as ‘groundbreaking’ because of the rarity of a FIFA member association taking the organisation to civil court. He says should a similar situation happen in Jamaica, the ruling could provide reference for any future decisions.

“FIFA would not want to repeat that process because of the way the ruling has gone in TT,” Stewart said. “They (FIFA) have always seemed to operate with impunity, but this has now opened the door quite wide.”

SANCTION THREATS

FIFA has threatened to sanction the TTFA over their pursuit of the case, but attorney Crystal Paul, a member of the TTFA’s legal team, used Judge Gobin’s summation to address the possibility of such action.

“It would be wrong of me to comment on the hypotheticals except to echo the sentiments of the judge when she said ‘we do not expect FIFA to walk off the field or to take its ball and go home if, after full ventilation of the issues, the court were to confirm the primacy of an act of Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over FIFA statutes’,” Paul said.

Another member of the TTFA’s legal team, Jason Jones, believes that the ruling forces the legal system of Trinidad and Tobago to be respected.

“Whether it’s T&T, Jamaica, Grenada, [if] any sovereign nation establishes a body by an act of Parliament and that body cannot access the local courts, then certainly it raises fundamental concerns. And this ruling clears the air and settles the issue as far as Trinidad and Tobago football is concerned,” Jones said.

Final Warning.
By Ian Prescott (Express).


FIFA has insisted that its dispute with Trinidad and Tobago has to be resolved at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or else it will take action.

Football’s international body yesterday issued what seemed a final warning to the country ahead of today’s 70th FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Congress starts at 9 a.m. as an online event and will be streamed on FIFA.com. Point four on today’s agenda is the suspension or expulsion of a member association.

“The insistence of the former TTFA leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally,” FIFA said yesterday in a media release.

“The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action.”

The Congress gives FIFA the framework to suspend T&T if it so desires, after the TTFA flouted one of FIFA’S most intimidating statutes by taking the world body to the country’s High Court.

The “United TTFA” faction of the local association, led by president William Wallace, challenged FIFA’s March 17 decision to replace the executive with its own normalisation committee.

And in a landmark decision, Justice Carol Gobin gave them leave to challenge FIFA’S decision before the High Court while affording FIFA seven days to appeal or 21 days to prepare its case.

Prior to that ruling, the world body had stated “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.”

Even so, FIFA indicated yesterday it would be lodging an appeal against the ruling.

“This appeal is a formal step, and as football’s world governing body, FIFA further insists that the only recognised path to resolve such a dispute is the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

“If they have (appealed), I am not aware of it,” United TTFA attorney Matthew Gayle said. “(But) if it was filed tomorrow, I don’t think there is anything we could do about it.”

Aware of the agenda contents of today’s FIFA Congress, Gayle said it was a “standard agenda item” so he did not know if T&T had been tabled.

Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Randy Harris had expressed concern, in an I95.5FM radio interview, that T&T’s bold action would bring sanctions, given that the court judgment set a previously untested precedent to other member associations (MAs) that FIFA could be challenged.

“This is a big, big decision in the football world because all of the MA’s (are) at this time believing they play under the FIFA statutes and their governance,” Harris said.

After challenging FIFA’s decision and winning the first motion in court, ousted TTFA president Wallace recently told the ­Express that his was a journey to be heard. He said he was prepared to face ­whatever would be the ­consequence.

« Last Edit: August 21, 2020, 09:42:10 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 gawd on pitch

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #587 on: August 21, 2020, 01:15:55 PM »
Infantino praised the work of the TTFA while DJW was running the show. During that time, he did not suggest in any way that the TTFAs "fiscal house" was a concern to FIFA.

I really think that the implementation of the NC is to cover up DJWs tracks and protect Infantino. If some evidence turns up about Infantino having knowledge of DJWs shady dealings, Infantino will be seen as just another corrupt FIFA president.

I also think Wallace knows something. I dont think he will go into a fight riding on hope and reason. The  threat of a suspension is real (which will have huge negative repercussions for football in TT), despite that he refuses to follow orders and back down. .

It's about to get interesting.

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Judgment day
« Reply #588 on: August 21, 2020, 01:35:22 PM »
Judgment day
By Philippe Auclair (josimarfootball.com)


In matters of law, the most publicised cases are not necessarily the most momentous. Who would have thought that the court action brought by RFC Liège midfielder Jean-Marc Bosman against the Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL would transform football as it did after the European Court of Justice ruled in his favour on 15 December 1995?

Another date might yet be seen to have been as significant in the future: Thursday 13 August 2020, when Justice Carol Gobin ruled in favour of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA) in their dispute against FIFA in the High Court of the Caribbean nation. FIFA is not used to be taken to court by one of its member associations; it is even less used to losing a case of that kind. But this was exactly what happened; in fact, this was the first time ever that it had.

TTFA vs. FIFA
The particulars of this complex case can be summed up thus: on 17 March of this year, the newly-elected board of the TTFA was the subject of a ‘normalisation order’ issued by Veron Mosengo-Omba, FIFA’s Director of Member Associations for the Caribbean and Africa. A ‘normalisation committee’ was put in place by FIFA, headed by Robert Haddad, a local businessman with no background in football. Short of suspension or expulsion, this was the heaviest sanction FIFA could impose on one of its 211 Member Associations (MA). Why it was imposed, and how it could be seen as a politically-motivated move, even an act of revenge, was explained in detail by Josimar here and here.

The TTFA first sought to fight this decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but could not gather the necessary funds to have the case heard at the Lausanne tribunal, where they’d have to cover the legal costs of FIFA as well their own. FIFA, one of CAS’s main financial contributors, has a statutory right to force opposing parties to pay for the whole process and exercised it in this instance, knowing full well that the impoverished TTFA didn’t have the means to foot the bill. As this avenue was now blocked to them, TTFA’s president William Wallace and his board took what looked like a desperate gamble at the time: with the help of pro bono lawyers, they opened proceedings against FIFA at the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, a move that many thought far too risky. But this gamble paid off – at least in court, when Justice Carol Gobin delivered her verdict on 13 August.

The TTFA wished to demonstrate that FIFA had violated its own statutes by establishing a normalisation committee; and beyond that, that the law of Trinidad and Tobago superseded the authority of FIFA in matters pertaining to the TTFA. Justice Gobin ruled in favour of the TTFA on all counts, delivering an unambiguous 23-page ruling, written in robust English which must have caused a lot of unease in Zurich.

Her ruling hinged in part on what she considered a breach of FIFA’s Statute 19.2, which reads: “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“. As Justice Gobin put it, how could FIFA then assume “extraordinary power to control the day to day affairs of TTFA?”.

Moreover, she said, “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 [our italics]”.

Justice Gobin was not too impressed either by FIFA’s refusal to pay its fair share at a possible CAS hearing.  “[FIFA’s] refusal to pay the advance costs rendered the arbitration inoperable”, she said. In any case, she didn’t think “that arbitration would be the appropriate forum for the resolution of this 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 Court of Arbitration for Sports. [our italics]”.

This was a point on which FIFA clearly disagreed, as shown in the statement it published to explain its decision to appeal against the High Court’s ruling. It read: “FIFA […] insists that the only recognised path to resolve such a dispute is the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). The recognition of the CAS as the correct forum in which to hear the dispute is in accordance with the FIFA Statutes that all 211 FIFA member associations have agreed to, as well as in agreement with TTFA’s own statutes on this matter”.

The question remains: why did the High Court’s decision matter so much? And would its impact be felt way beyond Port-of-Spain?

“Has opened the door”
Whilst the matter is not closed – FIFA lodged an appeal at the 11th hour, and Justice Gobin still has to rule on the ‘substantive case’, for which FIFA was given a three weeks extension to file its defence – it constitutes more than a mere slap on the wrist for Gianni Infantino’s organisation. It represents an unprecedented challenge to its self-proclaimed right to be the supreme authority on world football which, if upheld, could have dramatic consequences on the game’s governance. It would also put in question the role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the ultimate arbitrator in disputes involving FIFA.

Why couldn’t any other MA do exactly the same as what the TTFA had done when subjected to a normalisation order by FIFA? Of course, not every MA has a legal status comparable to that of TTFA in its home country, nor do the laws of Trinidad and Tobago have a universal value.

There have been other ‘test cases’ in the recent past, which appeared to challenge the supremacy of CAS and the very principle of supranationality in sports governance, and ultimately did not, such as the so-called Pechstein Saga and the Decision of the Oberlandesgericht München: neither had the impact that been hoped for, or feared. There is a significant difference in this case, however. The ruling emanated from a country’s supreme judicial body, not from an obscure county court, and FIFA had chosen – foolishly? – to fight back in court, and lost, at least for now.

Now a precedent has been set: FIFA cannot “presume to be above the law”, a message which immediately found an echo in neighbouring Jamaica, whose federation, the JFF, has been on FIFA’s watchlist for a while and has feared normalisation for a number of months now.

A few days after the ruling, the Vice-chairman of the Jamaican Premier League Clubs Association Carvel Stewart was telling a local paper: “[…] FIFA will now be hesitant in taking such a fundamental step as literally overthrowing an elected organisation and putting in a normalisation committee. FIFA would not want to repeat that process because of the way the ruling has gone in T&T. They have always seemed to operate with impunity, but this has now opened the door quite wide.”

This, too, is the view of one of the main actors in the TTFA vs. FIFA affair, president of the TT Super League and chairman of the TTFA technical committee Keith Look-Loy, who insists on the global dimension of both the predicament his FA found itself in and the judgement made in his country’s High Court, as he explained in a letter sent to the editor of the T&T website Wired868.com.

“When one observes recent developments in Switzerland involving the Fifa president, one understands the concern across the globe, inside and outside of football, that the manipulation of legal process and officials is endemic to Fifa’s legal and administrative culture”, he wrote. “I have always said this is the real reason behind the imposition of the normalisation committee: to cover up malpractice and to secure TTFA’s vote in Fifa’s global game”.

“Indeed, recent letters from high Fifa officials to the presidents of national associations across the globe—intended to rally support for embattled Gianni Infantino against criminal proceedings by the Swiss state—demonstrate the absolute necessity of securing his global voting bloc as protection against suspension by Fifa’s Ethics Committee (*)”.

Look-Loy was just as sanguine when Josimar contacted him a few days ago. “In terms of football governance, [the High Court’s] decision must be the biggest in decades when it comes to FIFA”, he told us. “I really do not see [another] national court telling its citizens that FIFA law trumped its own. FIFA is not supreme, FIFA’s power is not infinite, and this is of huge significance for the future of football governance. This calls into question the whole normalisation committee/CAS network, if I may call it that. A friend was telling me recently: “FIFA is a bully, and bullies win”. I answered, “yes, bullies win – until they don’t.”

On the TTFA’s side, the main worry now is that FIFA, which decided to bring Justice Gobin’s decision to T&T’s Court of Appeal late on Thursday evening, could retaliate by suspending it from its competitions, when the Soca Warriors have just been drawn against Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and Bahamas in the preliminary stage of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.

Not too much should be read in the fourth item on the agenda of FIFA’s forthcoming Congress, which will be held online on 18 September: “suspension or exclusion of a member”. This is a statutory item which is included in every agenda of this kind and carries no particular sinister significance; but what is true is that expulsion from FIFA can only occur when ordered by the Congress, and that suspensions must be ratified by it too. What is also true is that the closing paragraphs of the FIFA statement published late on 20 August, in which the governing body announced it had lodged an appeal, could be read as a threat, and not a particularly subtle one at that.

It read: “The insistence of the TTFA former leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally.”

“The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action”.

What other ‘potential further action’ could be envisaged apart from suspension, or even expulsion?

Unsettled times lie ahead for both the TTFA and for FIFA. The former has been in limbo for over five months now, and many of its employees, including coaches, haven’t been paid a cent during that period. FIFA cannot operate properly without supranational powers being accepted as part of the deal by its Member Associations; but it overstepped the mark, at least according to the T&T High Court, and must now face the prospect of more challenges coming its way should it overstep again.

The paradox at the heart of the affair is that the TTFA is as isolated as it has ever been, in its own region and elsewhere. A few leading figures in Caribbean football have privately expressed their satisfaction with the ruling, but none of them has dared to do so in public as yet. Victor Montigliani’s CONCACAF distanced itself from the TTFA from the outset, and shows no sign of changing that stance. None of the Caribbean Member Associations has made a public show of solidarity with the TTFA administration. Yet many of them might benefit from what it dared to do.

And once again, Jean-Marc Bosman’s case comes to mind.

Excerpts from Justice Gobin’s judgment“
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 and its insistence on holding the TTFA to the arbitration agreement on the other. The Claimant [i.e. the TTFA] properly asks the question: ‘whom does FIFA hold to that agreement’.

“In other words, if Fifa disputes the authority of [TTFA elected president] 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.”

“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, 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.

“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. 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”.

“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.”

“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.”
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #589 on: August 21, 2020, 09:10:56 PM »
We have investigated ourselves and cleared ourselves of all wrongdoing

Who investigate whom locally ?

Deeks this is what FIFA statement boils down to. A similar sentiment is regularly expressed by Police departments accused of brutality in USA

when did we investigate ourselves. Is FIFA who did the investigation. I can't remember a local body investigating TTFA. I remember a piece done by flow.

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #590 on: August 21, 2020, 11:00:31 PM »
Deeks. I’m saying that FIFA is claiming to have investigated themselves.

When I said “we” I was attributing that “quote” to them (FIFA)


THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #591 on: August 22, 2020, 09:20:23 AM »
FIFA: Wallace had no power to initiate legal proceedings.
By Ian Prescott (Express).


NO AUTHORITY

DOES William Wallace have the authority to challenge FIFA before the Trinidad and Tobago High Court?

This is one of the avenues attorneys representing football’s world governing body FIFA will explore in its appeal to Justice Carol Gobin’s August 13 decision giving “United TTFA”, represented by TTFA president William Wallace and his three vice-presidents, leave to challenge their March 2020 dismissal and FIFA’s appointment of a normalisation committee to run Trinidad and Tobago football.

On Thursday, FIFA filed notice of appeal in a 34-page document. Representing FIFA are attorneys Christopher Hamel-Smith, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie of Port of Spain law firm, M. Hamel-Smith & Co. New City law firm attorneys Mathew GW Gayle, Dr Emir Crowne, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul represent United TTFA.

Among things FIFA is seeking is that Justice Carol Gobin’s verdict be rendered null and that TTFA’s case be dismissed or alternatively, proceedings be stayed. In the absence of both, FIFA sought an extension of 28 days after determination of the appeal in order to begin a defence. FIFA representatives also applied to have its legal costs paid by Wallace’s party.

The world governing body maintains a stance that Wallace had been stripped of all power.

“The learned judge erred by failing to hold that the president of the respondent (TTFA) did not have the authority under the respondent’s constitution to commence these proceedings,” FIFA’S appeal stated. “FIFA contends that the effect of the appointment of the normalisation committee was to immediately and unceremoniously strip the duly elected Executive Board of Directors of its powers under TTFA’s constitution.”

In its appeal, FIFA points out that the nature of the relationship between FIFA and the TTFA is contractual. The legal framework for FIFA’s relationship with its member associations is set out in its statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA (as well as Swiss Law).

The FIFA Statutes are FIFA’s constitution and they set out the terms and conditions of each individual association’s membership. Therefore, by joining the world body, FIFA said, the TTFA agreed wholly to abide by its dictates.

“TTFA has since 1964 (prior to incorporation) been a member of FIFA as the association that represents Trinidad and Tobago. It is this membership that entitles Trinidad and Tobago to participate in international tournaments and matches against the national teams of other member associations of FIFA.”

Further, FIFA in its appeal maintains that its contract with the TTFA is binding.

“The learned judge erred in law by failing to give effect to the binding agreement between the appellant (FIFA) and the respondent (TTFA) as contained in the FIFA Statutes that precluded the commencement of these proceedings before the ordinary courts in this jurisdiction.”

FIFA will also challenge other aspects of Justice Gobin’s verdict.

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 #592 on: August 23, 2020, 12:43:23 AM »
Wallace vows to press on with the fight.
By Ian Prescott (Express).


NOT INTIMIDATED

WILLIAM WALLACE will not be intimidated by FIFA, and has vowed to press on with his court battle against football’s world governing body.

The former Carapichaima Government Secondary School vice-principal views a recent FIFA press release as a threat but vows to continue his fight “to be heard”. But, having taken recent court action against FIFA as “United TTFA” and using their own financial means, Wallace does not believe the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has to fear FIFA sanctions.

“It is a threat to us,” Wallace declared.” It a threat to William Wallace, Clynt Taylor, Susan Wallace and Sam Phillip.”

With its 70th FIFA Congress due to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, in just under a month’s time FIFA could, according to its rules, bring sanctions against the TTFA for contravening FIFA statutes barring association from taking disputes to local courts. The FIFA Congress is scheduled to take place virtually on September 18 and one of the tabled agenda points is suspension or expulsion of a member association.

Wallace and his three vice-presidents laid a claim before the T&T High Court in May, challenging FIFA’s decision to replace their four-month TTFA executive with its normalisation committee, which has been given the mandate to run T&T football. United TTFA then won the opening court matter on August 13 when Justice Carol Gobin ruled that the High Court has jurisdiction to hear their claim. FIFA has since appealed the verdict.

FIFA laws specifically prevent member associations from taking such matters to local courts and on Thursday, it issued what seemed a final warning to Trinidad and Tobago via a media release.

“The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action,” FIFA’s statement said.

FIFA further maintained that its dispute with T&T needed to be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), located in Switzerland where FIFA is based, and not the local High Court.

“The insistence of the former TTFA leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally,” FIFA said.

Wallace re-emphasised that his group had done everything to comply with FIFA law and had many times sought mediation. They then went to CAS before withdrawing in May, citing unfair procedures, and finally took their case to the High Court.

“We did go the road of CAS and we were not fairly dealt with by FIFA, in terms of their cooperation and so on. So we did go down that road. When we could not get justice down that road, and that justice was denied, we decided to go the other way and this is where we are — that point.”

Wallace said the next move is FIFA’s, although he recently said he is still open to dialogue.

“FIFA has appealed the matter. So, as far as we are concerned the matter is before the court,” Wallace stated.

RELATED NEWS

Ousted TTFA pres responds to FIFA's appeal.
T&T Guardian Reports.


William Wallace, ousted president of the T&T Football Association (TTFA), yesterday sent out a press release in response to FIFA's appeal to the ruling of Madame Justice Carol Gobin.

The letter, to which was signed by Wallace as president, is as follows:

23rd August 2020

The TTFA notes that FIFA has appealed the ruling of the Honourable Madame Justice Gobin, but notes with some concern that FIFA has described this appeal as a mere ‘formal step’ and that FIFA has again threatened “potential further action” against the TTFA.

This comes on the heels of their previous statement that: “FIFA does not, and will never, accept the jurisdiction of a local court in Trinidad and Tobago...”.

These statements suggest the contempt with which FIFA holds our Courts, our people and our Nation.

FIFA has wrongly sought to imply that the TTFA leadership have insisted in bringing the claim to the Trinidad and Tobago Courts, when it was FIFA who refused to do all that was necessary to facilitate the CAS process, as the Honourable Madame Justice Gobin observed in her ruling:

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... [FIFA] rendered the arbitration inoperable.

Contrary to FIFA’s statements, the TTFA has also tried not less than six (6) times to formally engage FIFA in talks formal and/or informal, for the two parties to come together to resolve the issues in the interest of Football in Trinidad and Tobago. The latest effort came immediately after

The Honourable Madame Justice Gobin’s ruling. FIFA has refused to engage in any discussions, forcing the TTFA as a last resort to turn to the Courts.

Not since 1962 have the people of Trinidad and Tobago allowed themselves to be forcibly subjugated in the manner that FIFA now seeks to do. In the words of Justice Gobin, FIFA now threatens to “take its ball and go home”. But by doing so however, FIFA would be accepting and confirming that the Normalisation Committee it claims to have appointed lacks not only moral legitimacy, but legal legitimacy too.

TTFA now looks to the hearing of the matter in the local Court of Appeal.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2020, 03:38:24 PM by Flex »
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Offline Controversial

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #593 on: August 23, 2020, 02:51:04 PM »
Infantino praised the work of the TTFA while DJW was running the show. During that time, he did not suggest in any way that the TTFAs "fiscal house" was a concern to FIFA.

I really think that the implementation of the NC is to cover up DJWs tracks and protect Infantino. If some evidence turns up about Infantino having knowledge of DJWs shady dealings, Infantino will be seen as just another corrupt FIFA president.

I also think Wallace knows something. I dont think he will go into a fight riding on hope and reason. The  threat of a suspension is real (which will have huge negative repercussions for football in TT), despite that he refuses to follow orders and back down. .

It's about to get interesting.

The cover up is definitely  part of it, but the sabotaging of our football? You can thief and still do well with the team, keep the best coaches and not sabotage ...

This is beyond infantino, he just got another free pass.. it’s more than just this, it’s ensuring TT is not a powerful team or association

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #594 on: August 24, 2020, 12:40:32 AM »
Fifa vows to bring TTFA ‘in line’, lodges appeal against High Court ruling.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Fifa, the world governing football body, has vowed to bring the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) ‘in line’ and warned of ‘potential further action’ against the member association, as a result of High Court action taken by the TTFA’s elected officials.

Last week, TTFA president William Wallace and vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph Warrick and Sam Phillip secured a potentially seismic legal triumph over Fifa, when High Court Judge Carol Gobin ruled that the local officials were not bound by an arbitration clause with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and could take Fifa to court here.

Fifa, which is headed by president Gianni Infantino, declared this afternoon that it will appeal Justice Gobin’s ruling.

“Fifa is today lodging an appeal against the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago High Court issued last week,” stated a Fifa release, “to proceed with a claim from the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) against the decision of the Bureau of the Fifa Council in March 2020 to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA.

“This appeal is a formal step, and as football’s world governing body, Fifa further insists that the only recognised path to resolve such a dispute is the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

“The recognition of the CAS as the correct forum in which to hear the dispute is in accordance with the Fifa Statutes that all 211 Fifa member associations have agreed to, as well as in agreement with TTFA’s own statutes on this matter.”

Fifa warned too of potential action against the TTFA, after Wallace and his vice-presidents’ refusal to abide by its ruling.

“The insistence of the TTFA former leadership to bring this matter to a local court instead of the established dispute resolution forum at CAS greatly endangers the overall football structure in the country,” stated Fifa, “and endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally.

“The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both Fifa and TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant Fifa bodies for consideration and potential further action.”

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

Last week, Justice Gobin noted Fifa’s repeated threats to the local game and the respective TTFA officials in particular and warned the Zurich-based body to be mindful of its own lofty humanitarian goals.

“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.”

Fifa will hold its 70th Congress online on Friday 18 September and its fourth agenda item is the ‘suspension or expulsion of a member’. However, Fifa’s appeal against Justice Gobin’s judgment is unlikely to have been heard by then.

It is left to be seen if Fifa would initiate such drastic action against the TTFA in the midst of a court case with the latter’s officials.

The Soca Warriors are scheduled to open their Qatar 2020 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday 8 October with a home game against Guyana. Were Fifa to suspend the TTFA, such action would automatically expel the Men’s National Senior Team from the competition outright.

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.

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Offline Deeks

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #595 on: August 24, 2020, 08:38:39 AM »
endangers the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally.

This is real joke statement. What position does TT hold in international football that will affect football. If we held such high position, how come we can't even get Venezuela to play we. When was the last time Brazil came to TT  to play our highly respectable football team. When was the last time we got an invitation from Germany, France or Italy to play in, Paris, Rome or Berlin? f---k fifa!!!!!

Offline Tallman

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Griffith: Heavy price if Fifa court matter continues
« Reply #596 on: August 24, 2020, 02:46:14 PM »
Griffith: Heavy price if Fifa court matter continues
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)


COMMISSIONER of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith says if the United T&T Football Association (TTFA), led by William Wallace, continues to fight world governing body Fifa in court, the development of football in T&T will be affected. He is asking for the matter to be resolved through mediation.

"I have the world of respect for Mr Wallace and his slate, and I do believe that they have a major role to play in the development of our football in the near future. In fact, this was endorsed by them being appointed to do just that in the last election," Griffith said in a media release.

Griffith believes T&T football will come out on the losing end.

"The end cannot justify the means by the present course of action, because as with any mission, one cannot just look at the short-term result, but instead look towards the domino effect, as it relates to what would trigger another reaction by Fifa. This is what any good leader, manager, administrator, player, supporter or patriot of football would do in this situation."

The United TTFA is currently in a court battle against Fifa.

On March 17, Fifa removed former TTFA president Wallace and his executive from office (deputies Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip). They had been elected in November 2019.

Fifa appointed a normalisation committee led by local businessman Robert Hadad to run local football for two years, saying the decision was made because of the association’s financial woes and “massive debt.”

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. Wallace and his team then felt they would not get a "fair hearing" from CAS and appealed to the local High Court on May 18.

On August 13, Justice Carol Gobin said that the matter must be resolved in T&T, but days later, Fifa insisted it must be resolved by CAS.

T&T footballers will not get the opportunity to represent their country if the battle continues, according to the CoP.

"Any club or zone supporting the present stance to take Fifa to court is virtually agreeing that we are prepared to have all of our national teams shut down, and banned from participating in all competitive and friendly international tournaments and matches, inclusive of the upcoming World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup."

Giving more details on how he thinks the current fight against Fifa will affect local football, Griffith said, "This would also mean massive loss of revenue from several quarters, inclusive of the same Fifa, as well as sponsorship, and support from the private and public sector, which we cannot swallow at this time, especially with the massive debt that the normalisation committee is presently trying to pay off...the present direction would just add fuel to the fire and sink us further."

Griffith said players in their late 20s and early 30s are "looking forward to what may be their possible final chance to represent their country" in top-level international football.

He added that "several young players in that squad (are) now looking to establish their professional and international careers...we must not be dream killers for young people in our country."

Griffith said the football fans in T&T want to see T&T football rise to the pinnacle of the sport again.

"You do not do all it takes to win a battle, just to lose a war. Nobody wins if we go down the road via the local court, especially for our country, for our football development, and for the dreams of many, not just players, but the hundreds of thousands of supporters who would lose the opportunity to dream of one day seeing a repeat of what we achieved in 2006."

The 2006 World Cup in Germany is the only time T&T qualified for the Fifa World Cup.

In early July, Fifa considered resolving the situation with United TTFA through mediation, but that option fell through. Griffith is hoping the parties will consider that option again.

"Let us rectify our differences via mediation and respect for each other, which can then become a win-win for all. I am confident that Mr Wallace and United TTFA, Mr Hadad and the normalisation committee, Fifa, Concacaf and every football-loving citizen in this country would prefer (that)."

RELATED NEWS

Griffith calls on Wallace to re-think his stance.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has come out against United T&T Football Association with their fight against FIFA to overturn a decision to appoint a Normalisation Committee to manage local football.

Griffith, who was a former manager at the T&T Defence Force football team, in a release on Monday said while he has the world of respect for United TTFA president William Wallace and his team, which was endorsed generally by them being voted in as administrators after last year's TTFA elections, he noted that the end cannot justify the means, by their present course of action, as with any mission one cannot just look at the short-term result, but instead look towards the domino effect, as it relates to what would trigger another reaction by FIFA, saying “This is what any good leader, manager, administrator, player, supporter or patriot of football would do in this situation.”

According to Griffith, a former hockey player, wrote, “Any club or Zone supporting the present stance to take FIFA to court, is virtually agreeing that we are prepared to have all of our National teams shut down, and banned from participating in all competitive and friendly International Tournaments and matches, inclusive of the upcoming World Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup.”

He added, “This would also mean a massive loss of revenue from several quarters, inclusive of the same FIFA, as well as sponsorship, and support from the private and public sector, which we cannot swallow at this time, especially with the massive debt that the Normalization Committee is presently trying to pay off of over 100 million TT. The present direction would just add fuel to the fire and sink us further.”

He continued, “Additionally, with the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and CONCACAF Gold Cup drawing near, there are dozens of players in their late 20s/ early 30s, who were looking forward to what may be their possible final chance to represent their country at such a level, as well as several young players in that squad now looking to establish their professional and international careers. Additionally, this could also cause the suspension of our National Youth Teams from International matches and Tournaments, hence affecting hundreds of other young players.”

Football's world governing body FIFA and the TTFA have clashed over the removal of the TTFA executive- Wallace and vice presidents Clynt Taylor, Susa Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip from office after just three months, and replaced them with a normalization committee which comprises chairman Robert Hadad, Judy Daniel and Nigel Romano.

Wallace and his team took their concern to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne Switzerland before later going to the High Court in Port-of-Spain, citing lack of support at the CAS. And two weeks ago they celebrated an early-round victory when Justice Carol Gobin ruled in their favour to have the High Court as the jurisdiction to settle the dispute, although the FIFA Statutes state that Member Associations were not to take the federation to their local court, or else face sanctions.

FIFA in an almost immediate response said the country (TT) will face sanction.

Griffith made it clear we must not be dream-killers for the young people in our country, saying “Nobody wins if we go down the road via the local court, especially for our country, for our football development, and for the dreams of many, not just players, but the hundreds of thousands of supporters who would lose the opportunity to dream of one day seeing a repeat of what we achieved in 2006.”

He said now is the time for us to make a decision to find a way to rectify this situation via dialogue, compromise and mutual respect between all relevant parties because the present agenda to fight a war with the FIFA in a local court, may not be the best way as everyone will lose.”

Griffith release triggered an immediate response from Keith Look Loy, the driving force behind the formation of the United TTFA, who in an effort to clear the air, said the truth is that his team has written to the FIFA about six times, from the time the normalization committee was decided up to the ruling of Justice Gobin and noted that Griffith idea is not a new one.

He explained that in spite of all their attempts at mediation, the FIFA has consistently refused to respond to them. “We are not the bad guys here. We went the CAS route and FIFA refused to pay its share of the CAS fee. We came to Trinidad and they say they will not recognize the court, they lost the case. Now they're saying they're going to a second court, though they say they will never recognize a T&T court. We have been attempting to get mediation since March, we are not the bad guys here, we are playing by the rules.”

« Last Edit: August 25, 2020, 12:50:07 AM by Flex »
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Offline pull stones

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #597 on: August 25, 2020, 12:40:47 AM »
Infantino praised the work of the TTFA while DJW was running the show. During that time, he did not suggest in any way that the TTFAs "fiscal house" was a concern to FIFA.

I really think that the implementation of the NC is to cover up DJWs tracks and protect Infantino. If some evidence turns up about Infantino having knowledge of DJWs shady dealings, Infantino will be seen as just another corrupt FIFA president.

I also think Wallace knows something. I dont think he will go into a fight riding on hope and reason. The  threat of a suspension is real (which will have huge negative repercussions for football in TT), despite that he refuses to follow orders and back down. .

It's about to get interesting.

The cover up is definitely  part of it, but the sabotaging of our football? You can thief and still do well with the team, keep the best coaches and not sabotage ...

This is beyond infantino, he just got another free pass.. it’s more than just this, it’s ensuring TT is not a powerful team or association
mister you not tired of taking nonsense? who scared of trinidad and tobago? IMO there are teams in the caribbean who fifa should be even more wary of, teams like jamaica haiti, curacau, even cuba. trinidad and tobago is full of inconsistent players who go out there and embarrass their country off and on with lackluster performances. we have players who can't even string five passes together yet you're insinuating that fifa is scared of those jokers? things for the funny papers mate.

it's delusional thinking such as this that makes TT an under performing team particularly when these young lads buy into this rhetoric, believing that they have accomplished their goal when they haven't even scratched the surface in terms of accomplishments, which brings me to kenwin jones who after three seasons in the premier league performances dropped drastically and played like he had won everything under the sun, and with an attitude of someone who was in the twilight years of his career that has nothing to prove.

in order for people to understand what is taking place with our football the truth must be exposed, and the reality of our situation made clear to the world. the real reason why infantino is on a witch hunt in regards to the united TTFA is because they need to control CFU and concacaf by extension, and they can't do that with federations who might be opposed to them.

 in the beginning of the united TTFA tenure DJW was painting a picture that WW and K. lok loy was aligned to jack warner and if they were to be successful, DJW would never stand another shot at being CFU president which would make infantinos work even harder in controlling the votes in cfu and by extension concacaf.

if you told me that fifa does not want what happened to america to happen again because of the money that they lost due to the USA being kicked out of the WC then i would agree, and i would even go as far as to say that they might even consider paying lesser federations presidents to throw games which is what i believe DJW was involved in (believe, not sure), but to say that shit hound TT is somehow a football power house and a take over is only way to keep us under performing is total nonsense mate, shame on you.

Offline pull stones

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #598 on: August 25, 2020, 12:56:26 AM »
you want to know what's the most annoying part of this whole normalization committee nonsense? the fact that every one save a few people like fazeer mohammed and collin murray has bought into the idea that william wallace and the united TTFA should step aside and allow the normalization committee to assume responsibility off TT football.

another annoying fact is that no one is seeing this the fat moth$%#@#$%*# ugly creton DJW is the architect behind this whole debacle and is not being called to account. just imagine a man who felt that he somehow had a right to control football for another dynasty and could hold our football to ransom simply because he has friends in high places who' more than willing to help him in that regard.

this is really reminiscent of jack warner and sep blatter and how they mangled football in TT for the last 30 years, how did we get here again, and so fast? is controlling football the only way trinidadians know how to get rich? this is so heart wrenching that i refuse to even watch football these days, i'm so over these forked up trinidadians. fifa should just do us a favor and ban us indefinitely.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA appoints normalisation committee for Trinidad and Tobago football
« Reply #599 on: August 25, 2020, 09:37:37 AM »
you want to know what's the most annoying part of this whole normalization committee nonsense? the fact that every one save a few people like fazeer mohammed and collin murray has bought into the idea that william wallace and the united TTFA should step aside and allow the normalization committee to assume responsibility off TT football.

another annoying fact is that no one is seeing this the fat moth$%#@#$%*# ugly creton DJW is the architect behind this whole debacle and is not being called to account. just imagine a man who felt that he somehow had a right to control football for another dynasty and could hold our football to ransom simply because he has friends in high places who' more than willing to help him in that regard.

this is really reminiscent of jack warner and sep blatter and how they mangled football in TT for the last 30 years, how did we get here again, and so fast? is controlling football the only way trinidadians know how to get rich? this is so heart wrenching that i refuse to even watch football these days, i'm so over these forked up trinidadians. fifa should just do us a favor and ban us indefinitely.

To be precise, he didn't have friends in high places. He ingratiated himself to persons with influence and perceived influence and offered/presented himself as "thoughtful" and "can-do" and as someone who could deliver conformity within CFU. 

Although there are sound reasons to question the approach taken by Randy Harris (Barbados and CFU), the CFU reality likely would have experienced a  more significant paradigm shift had "David John Willie" (yuh win with that one! :rotfl:) become CFU president.

DJW sold some T&T stakeholders on the benefits of his ingratiating conduct (conduct sprinkled with enthusiastically expressed ideas and personal visions of football). Basically, he kissed the ring and pledged allegiance to the King of FIFA. In exchange, he sought the leverage and unfettered authority he hoped that bought him across the land. The M. O. is in the image of Columbus, Vasco da Gama and the like: capture lands for the Crown, win hearts, suppress minds, receive patronage and send tributes to the Crown. Not all assigned those responsibilities were up to the task.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2020, 11:44:45 PM by asylumseeker »

 

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