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Offline Deeks

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #60 on: April 27, 2021, 03:28:46 PM »
How in good concience can these people expect players to come and train without some kind of compensation in this time of covid.

Offline Tiresais

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #61 on: April 27, 2021, 04:34:57 PM »
Scum. Pockets a pretty penny from FIFA while his players starve? What happened to getting paid for work?

There are two forms of work for which one is not compensated. One of them is known as voluntarism.

These players aren't volunteering, and this certainly isn't voluntarism/voluntourism (had a student write a disseratation about that a decade ago, interesting stuff). These are football players undertaking training for the benefit of T&T - look at how they behave about the Rangers players. No wonder they wouldn't release them, clearly there was no guarantee of insurance/compensation if they released the players they were paying.


So what are your thoughts on forced labour?

I'm not a fan, although the TTFA don't seem to mind that they're effectively forcing these players to train for free due to the collapse of their industry

Nothing is forced ... they all can just not show up to train  ...  if st kitts can get a league going why cant we ?

It's not forced by threat of physical violence, but this is the only way they can keep up in their chosen profession. It's exploitative to say "you can train, but we ain't paying you" when they directly benefit from their hard work. How would the NT function without the training? They're pushing for WC qualification and that's not possible without this. At worst they are providing practice match bodies for the first eleven.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #62 on: May 01, 2021, 04:33:37 AM »
Scum. Pockets a pretty penny from FIFA while his players starve? What happened to getting paid for work?

There are two forms of work for which one is not compensated. One of them is known as voluntarism.

These players aren't volunteering, and this certainly isn't voluntarism/voluntourism (had a student write a disseratation about that a decade ago, interesting stuff). These are football players undertaking training for the benefit of T&T - look at how they behave about the Rangers players. No wonder they wouldn't release them, clearly there was no guarantee of insurance/compensation if they released the players they were paying.


So what are your thoughts on forced labour?

I'm not a fan, although the TTFA don't seem to mind that they're effectively forcing these players to train for free due to the collapse of their industry

Nothing is forced ... they all can just not show up to train  ...  if st kitts can get a league going why cant we ?

It's not forced by threat of physical violence, but this is the only way they can keep up in their chosen profession. It's exploitative to say "you can train, but we ain't paying you" when they directly benefit from their hard work. How would the NT function without the training? They're pushing for WC qualification and that's not possible without this. At worst they are providing practice match bodies for the first eleven.

And, effectively coerced?  No show no selection?

Offline Deeks

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #63 on: May 01, 2021, 04:40:15 AM »
I am most certain that Haddad is not voluntary his services.

Offline Flex

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #64 on: May 01, 2021, 06:47:42 AM »
Hadad betrayed us! National players and staff fire back at normalisation committee
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team players have accused Fifa-appointed normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad of betrayal, as roughly 40 percent of the local-based players skipped practice today.

The training sessions are usually attended by roughly 28 players, but only 16 showed up today. And, according to a source, the absentees told head coach Terry Fenwick that quotes attributed to Hadad in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper were the reason for their non-appearance.

Hadad, according to the newspaper, said the normalisation committee would not pay training stipends to the Soca Warriors.

“We are not obligated to pay anybody a stipend, number one,” Hadad told the Guardian. “Number two, there are a few players who have come to us and we have said to them that we’re not obligated to pay a stipend.

“We have presented our budget to Fifa for the year and it does not include anything called a stipend… I am not going to make promises to them that I cannot keep.”

The article prompted a furious response from players, who accused the businessman of dishonesty and betrayal. Not only, they claim, did the normalisation committee chairman promise them stipends but they were told to expect payment before Christmas 2020.

“Hadad came and spoke to us on more than one occasion because we have players who are coming from as far as Cedros and Point Fortin on a daily basis,” said one player, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It came out from his mouth that they were working on stipends for us—and that was since last year. They said they would pay it before Christmas and a lot of the younger players were looking forward to it.

“Then time passed and we were not hearing anything, so we asked our manager Adrian Romain. Every time we asked, he would say ‘they are working on it, they are working on it’. Now we see this story.

“For the players, this is like a betrayal.”

Hadad’s Guardian interview attempted to rationalise his position by suggesting that the players would usually be paid by their clubs and would not need stipends. So he did not want to set a precedent.

It was curious logic in unprecedented times, particularly as Fifa gave all member associations a grant of US$1.5 m (TT$10 m) in 2020 as ‘Covid-19 relief’. Fenwick has asked his local-based players to turn up for duty up to five days a week, precisely because their clubs are inactive and they are unemployed.

If the normalisation committee offered TT$100 per session to players to offset their costs for transportation and a light meal, it would not compensate for what they might earn elsewhere. But at least, the player noted, it would mean they are not losing money to train, which they usually get from family members or well-wishers.

At TT$100 per session with 30 players training five days per week, the normalisation committee would fork out TT$60,000 per month. If Fenwick kept the squad training for 10 months in the year, the cost would be TT$600,000—roughly 17 percent of the sum that Fifa offered member associations to help mitigate the effect of the pandemic.

Wired868 asked Hadad, the co-CEO of HadCo Group, why he did not think the players worth that investment, and had not factored such an allowance into the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) budget. He did not respond.

The HadCo Group includes: Apadoca’s, Caribbean Battery Recycling Ltd, Caribbean LED Lighting, Creamery Novelties, Ecoimpact, Fresh, Hadco Ltd, Happy Time, Haagen-Dazs, Hexcorp, JRJ Bonded Warehouse, Kelec Electrical, Land Ice & Fish, Lighthouse Ltd, Little Woods Foods, Mousie’s Ice Cream, New Age Recycling, Nova Lighting, One-Ocean Cargo, Peppercorns, and Sampson’s Transport Company.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for players to be asked to continuously ‘sacrifice for the country’, especially considering the prevailing circumstances which is the pandemic, no form of income for local pros, etc,” said a second player, who also spoke anonymously. “Guys aren’t asking for a salary, just something to offset daily expenses. It is baffling that he wouldn’t even submit it in the proposed budget to Fifa, since it is something that has been brought to his attention multiple times.”

Notably, Hadad is believed to receive US$6,500 (TT$44,000) per month from Fifa for his duties as chairman, while the other committee members collect US$4,000 (TT$27,000) each.

The other members of the normalisation committee are Judy Daniel, Nigel L Romano, and Trevor Nicholas Gomez. Daniel lives in Atlanta, USA and is not thought to have set foot in the twin island republic since accepting the post.

Hadad, Daniel, Romano and Gomez might be the only persons in local football who are being paid well and punctually. Despite the chairman’s claim to the contrary, national youth and senior coaches say they have not been paid since April 2020—and even that came eight months late.

One member of Fenwick’s technical staff turned up to training today with an eviction notice.

“Hadad has not even responded to the head coach since we came back [from Puerto Rico], or replied to his emails or text messages,” said a team official, who also spoke anonymously for fear of victimisation. “[…] This cannot continue. They are getting money from Fifa, so what are they doing with it?

“[…] At least come out and say ‘well we can’t pay you this month but we can pay x amount by next month’. Tell us something. The worst thing about it is the disrespect.”

Fenwick’s staff have spoken to the interim executive of the National Football Coaches of Trinidad and Tobago (NFCTT)—several of whom were national youth coaches last year and are also owed money. The latter body is expected to release a statement today.

The Soca Warriors do not have their own representatives, 15 years after the 2006 World Cup players started the now-defunct Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

“There is nobody representing the players,” said the first national player. “So we talk about our issues in-house and try to find a solution amongst ourselves. We have spoken to [team captain] Khaleem [Hyland] but nothing has happened. It seems that they get the same response that we get—that they are working on it—although obviously the foreign-based players won’t feel it as much as us, because they are still earning a living from their clubs.”

There is little goodwill left between players and administrators, with Hadad further eroding the trust that was in steep decline under former president David John-Williams.

“Under John-Williams, it used to be promises,” said the player. “He would say we would be paid outstanding match fees next week, and next week would come and you would hear something else. And eventually when we kick up, we would be paid.

“Since the normalisation committee came on board, we sent them something in writing and they replied and asked to be granted 60 days to pay us match fees, which we agreed to. But then the first payment for the USA game was made after those 60 days, and we are still waiting to see how long it would take for us to be paid for our World Cup qualifiers last month.

“[…] We realise now that we didn’t put in writing any penalty for late payment, so it is as if we didn’t give them a reason to want to pay within the agreed time. So we will have to look at that in the future.”

Life as a Trinidad and Tobago footballer, he said, means fighting for even the most basic things to do your job.

“There are plenty issues right now such as our equipment and uniforms seem to be whatever the staff can scrape up,” he said. “The medical supplies are lacking. The nutrition is really badly lacking. The police commissioner helps us out and we normally would get lunch in the Barracks after we finish training; but today had none.

“But finances is the biggest problem, especially with no football going on for two years straight. People are out of contract so men are training for free for over a year.

“Sometimes some players may get a ‘shut down’ work on the rigs down south and they will take it if they get it. Some get some hardware work in-between, which again would be their only sources of income.”

The players hoped that ‘back-pay’ was coming, based on alleged promises of a retroactive stipend by Hadad. His subsequent comments in the Guardian totally deflated them.

“Players took it to heart,” said the player. “You’re promising us one thing with your own mouth, and have players giving up whatever hustle they could be doing to come and train, with nothing in return.

“[…] It was a betrayal. It is something we asked about, they agreed on, they said they were working on it. And now this…”

RELATED NEWS

‘Callous and exploitative!’ Coaches accuse Hadad of destroying local football, demand transparency
WIRED868.


“[…] Not being paid according to agreement is unacceptable, but to add to that the dismissive nature with which the leadership of the TTFA has dealt with the crisis is callous and exploitative. This is the consensus of persons from every corner of the football fraternity.

“[…] Please be reminded, football belongs to the people of Trinidad and Tobago—not any one person or group of persons regardless of their position…”

The following press statement on the governance-style of Fifa-appointed normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad was submitted by Jefferson George, interim president of the National Football Coaches of Trinidad and Tobago (NFCTT) and ex-Boys National Under-15 Team goalkeeper coach:

As all sectors of our economy suffer from the effects of Covid-19, I am witnessing the destruction of the football industry by those who have the responsibility to manage it. (To avoid being ambiguous I am referring to the leadership of the TTFA.)

From the infrastructure of clubs and leagues to what should be its most precious resources, the human capital. Players, technical staff and supporters all have been abandoned and left like sheep without a shepherd, in these most trying times.

The head of the normalisation committee, Mr Robert Hadad, pledged last December—after paying 50 percent of the amount owed to members of the national technical staff—that he will be open and available for discussions on moving football forward with all stakeholders.

Despite several efforts to get in touch, there has been no response from him up to this day. With mounting debts and no opportunity to ply their trade, members for the technical staff remain in the dark concerning the outstanding payments.

This same situation also applies to the staff of the Men’s National Senior Team, as they continue to work without payment since last year.

I also had an opportunity to speak to local players on the senior team who spoke of the challenges associated with training. While transportation is being provided by a third party from a particular location, there is no allowance given to the members of the squad.

With most of these players not having a contract  because there is no local league, they are using from their own limited resources to attend training and for equipment.

Players have also had to consider the logical choice of going to make a ‘day work’ instead of attending training, because they have to feed their families.

As far as I am aware none of the staff of national teams have been paid this year, including the Futsal team which will be in competition in the upcoming weeks. That is contradictory to what Mr Hadad said in an interview recently when he stated that payment to all teams were up to date.

Not being paid according to agreement is unacceptable, but to add to that the dismissive nature with which the leadership of the TTFA has dealt with the crisis is callous and exploitative. This is the consensus of persons from every corner of the football fraternity.

On behalf of the Coaches Association, I am expressing extreme dissatisfaction with the treatment of staff and players, and the lack  of transparency in the dealings of the TTFA.

Please be reminded, football belongs to the people of Trinidad and Tobago—not any one person or group of persons regardless of their position.

Given that our expectations seem unrealistic to the TTFA, we will like to pose some pertinent questions:

1. Why are staff members not being paid although money has been received from Fifa?

2. What priority does the normalisation committee/TTFA place on staff payment?

3. Why are foreign coaches being hired while local coaches go unpaid?

4. What is the Fifa funding being used for currently?

5. Are there any plans to engage with local football stakeholders to map the way forward?


« Last Edit: May 01, 2021, 06:50:34 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 Deeks

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #65 on: May 01, 2021, 09:55:56 AM »
1. Why are staff members not being paid although money has been received from Fifa?     That is none of your business

2. What priority does the normalisation committee/TTFA place on staff payment?  That is none of your business

3. Why are foreign coaches being hired while local coaches go unpaid?  We don't like local coaches, they too duncy

4. What is the Fifa funding being used for currently? None of your f----ing business

5. Are there any plans to engage with local football stakeholders to map the way forward?  No

Offline Flex

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #66 on: May 02, 2021, 06:41:56 AM »
TTFA members call-out NC for mismanagement.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


Charges of gross mismanagement of the affairs of T&T football have been levelled against the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC) after only the first of its two-year term of office.

The same membership, who was responsible for the removal of the William Wallace-led United TTFA (T&T Football Association) from office last year, disapproves of the way the sport is currently being managed under the NC, led by chairman Robert Hadad, including the non-payment of salaries to the staff, players and coaches of the senior national men's team which is well into the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup 2022; no audited and compliance committee, no annual general meetings (AGM), no audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020; increasing debt and poor financial management, and the mismanagement of the World Cup match against Guyana that was played in the Dominican Republic.

The game was carded to be a T&T home game at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain on March 25 but the NC's lengthy delay in putting things in place led to the government blanking the association because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On Saturday, the members delivered a stinging 15-page document, which was also sent to FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, that stated the NC has failed to carry out the instructions of the sport's world governing body- to normalise T&T football and prepare it for election.

Pointing to the mandate given by FIFA, the members claim: "You were appointed on the 27th March 2020 and you were mandated by FIFA to execute the following during a two-year term: 1. Establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; 2. Review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and ensure their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress; 3. Run the TTFA’s daily affairs; 4. Organise and conduct elections of a new TTFA executive committee for a four-year mandate.

"To date, either there has been no cohesive and structured debt repayment plan presented to the members of the TTFA or the members have not been made aware of such plan by the Normalisation Committee to liquidate the outstanding debts to coaches, players, technical staff, TTFA administrative staff and other creditors. Rather, there seems to be a greater concern with setting up a “Unified League” than developing and presenting a well-organised and practical debt repayment strategy as mandated."

Hadad told Guardian Media Sports in January the debt had risen from an estimated $50 million to a whopping $70 million, but his actions to contain or reduce it, have been criticised by the membership, which stated: "Since your appointment on the 27th of March 2020, there seems to be an increase in expenditure for the TTFA. In fact, Mr Adrian Romain was hired as manager of the senior men’s team however, Mr Basil Thompson was already employed as the team’s manager. As such, Mr Thompson now holds the position of Logistics Manager, a post non-existent in our Constitution. This is clearly an unnecessary expense that you have approved and it has increased the debt of the TTFA even further.

"In addition, you have hired a number of high-priced foreign coaches such as the senior’s men’s national team head coach at twenty thousand US dollars ($20,000USD) per month, the goalkeeping coach at nine thousand US dollars ($9,000USD) per month and the assistant coach to the national team at eight thousand US dollars ($8,000USD) per month. As we are sure you are aware, they are currently the highest-paid coaching staff in the region. In an already cash-strapped environment, would it not be more prudent to retain our well capable local coaches for a reasonable cost? We the members are of the opinion that this is not financially prudent and it clearly illustrates poor financial management. Which is contrary to your instructions given by FIFA."

Hadad was not responsible for the appointments of the senior national team staff and coaches as they were made under the Wallace-led administration, however, T&T Futsal coach Constantine Konstin, beach soccer coach Ramiro Amarelle and women's coach James Thomas were hired by the NC.

The Wallace administration was also responsible for the appointment of the much-needed standing committees, but all of them were abandoned by the NC. The membership also sought to question this move, saying: "Article 40.2 of the TTFA Constitution states: ‘members of the standing committees shall be designated for a term of office of four years.’ It is also noteworthy that FIFA’s Statues also state that standing committees shall advise and assist the executive. FIFA, on the appointment of the normalisation committee, did not disband our existing Committees which were implemented by the previous administration. Rather, they disbanded the executive and appointed the normalisation committee. Failure to appoint the aforementioned Standing Committees has resulted in a lack of transparency and accountability with the stakeholders of the TTFA, as well as a general distrust between the members and the normalisation committee. Furthermore, the absence of the aforementioned committees undermines the integrity of the association and minimises our chances of optimal performance in the international arena.

The standing committees appointed by the previous administration are Finance Committee; Audit and Compliance Committee; Organising Committee for TTFA Competitions; Technical and Development Committee; Referees Committee; Legal Committee; Committee for Women’s Football; Youth Football and Development Committee; Sports Medicine Committee; Players’ Status Committee; and the Marketing Committee.

Hadad was also accused of failing to run the daily affairs of the sport and has not put together development programmes for the country's Under-13, U-15, and U-17 football teams, as well as a programme for the women's teams.

Meanwhile, national coach Terry Fenwick, despite leading the Soca Warriors to four points in two matches to date, has come under fire for an alleged incident on the eve of the team's departure for matches against Guyana and Puerto Rico in March. The outburst by Fenwick had been the second such incident during his stint in T&T football and the failure to deal with the recent incident against TTFA media officer Shaun Fuentes was noticed by the membership.

"As members of the TTFA, we would like to know what disciplinary measures were taken against Mr Fenwick for such aggressive and disrespectful behaviour. Is this the type of behaviour we allow to be swept under the carpet?"

Concerns about Fenwick's contract which was agreed on by the previous football administration were raised with inconsistencies and irregularities being at the top of the list, alongside reporting requirement. With no technical committee available, the Englishman reports directly to Hadad and his committee members.

Meanwhile, a release from the TTFA on Saturday said "the normalisation committee of the TTFA received a letter from the membership on May 1 which they understand and will deal with the issues this week". 

The release stated: "The Normalisation process was fully allowed to function as of November 2020 and the process for any Member Association is difficult and challenging. FIFA and CONCACAF continue to guide this process as we work towards resurrecting football out of its doldrums, which has been made more complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It must be noted that many details outlined in the document are inaccurate and based on assumptions. We will endeavour to improve on the communication channels between the TTFA and its membership so that the members are provided with accurate sources of information on these matters, with the aim of fostering a stronger relationship between all parties."

RELATED NEWS

Normalisation committee to address Trinidad and Tobago Football Association members' concerns.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


OVER THE next week, the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee will address a plethora of issues raised by several members of the TT Football Association (TTFA), who accuse the Robert Hadad-led board of mismanagement and further debt accumulation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the committee said they understood the concerns of the TTFA membership but has always been guided by the sport’s global governing body and Concacaf.

The committee’s statement came in response to a 13-page letter issued by eight TTFA members to Hadad, which highlighted an array of questionable administrative decisions.

The letter was signed off by acting TT Pro League chairman Brent Sancho, Central FA president Shymdeo Gosine, Eastern FA president Kieron Edwards, Eastern Counties Football Union vice-president Ian Pritchard, Northern FA president Ross Russell, Southern FA president Richard Quan Chan, TT Football Referees Association president Osmond Downer and Secondary Schools Football League president Merere Gonzales.

In reply to their complaints, the normalisation committee stated, “The normalisation process was fully allowed to function as of November 2020 and the process for any member association is difficult and challenging.

“FIFA and CONCACAF continue to guide this process as we work towards resurrecting football out of its doldrums, which has been made more complicated by the covid19 pandemic.”

The committee noted that many details outlined in the document they received were inaccurate and based on assumptions.

“We will endeavour to improve on the communication channels between the TTFA and its membership so that the members are provided with accurate sources of information on these matters, with the aim of fostering a stronger relationship between all parties,” the committee’s statement read.

The Hadad-led team, however, said that it was unfortunate that the members’ letter, which was sent internally, found its way into the public domain.

The committee’s statement concluded, “Trust between the TTFA and its membership is paramount to developing this strong relationship and we believe that by working together earnestly, it can be achieved.”

Meanwhile, the letter penned to Hadad by the troubled members took to task both the actions and inactions of his team during their stint at the helm of T&T football.

Hadad was chosen by FIFA to run the affairs of TT football, in March 2020, after the world governing body disbanded the then executive led by former president William Wallace.

FIFA removed Wallace and his administrators after an independent auditor stated the TTFA “faced a very risk of insolvency and illiquidity” owing to “financial mismanagement and massive debt”.

Hadad’s mandate, by FIFA, was to run the TTFA’s daily affairs and to establish a debt repayment plan implementable by the TTFA.

He was also required to review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) to ensure their compliance with FIFA’s Statutes and requirements. Additionally, he was tasked to organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA executive committee for a four-year mandate.

However, according to the letter, undersigned by eight TTFA members, they believe that neither of the above mentioned objectives was ever addressed by the committee.

They also questioned several decisions made by the normalisation committee to delay the TTFA’s annual general meeting, its non-appointment of audits, external auditors, compliance and technical committees and the absence of standing committee members.

Coaches’ salaries (both owed and overpaid), TTFA’s debt repayment plans, its Statutes and even its inability to secure the March 25 World Cup qualifier against Guyana on local soil were also among the many issues raised in the letter to Hadad.

« Last Edit: May 02, 2021, 06:44:57 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 asylumseeker

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #67 on: May 02, 2021, 08:58:52 AM »
Regarding the Team Manager and Logistics Manager separation of duties: a similar thing happened previously. Likely rooted in having a person dedicated to logistics in light of the multiple logistical mishaps. Whether it is directly provided for in the Constitution may be immaterial because it likely falls within the ordinary discretion and purview of a GS's operational guidance of the association. In this case, the NC. Nonetheless, discretion notwithstanding, the financial concern is valid. Also, raises multiple other questions about efficiency.

Offline Controversial

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #68 on: May 02, 2021, 10:49:48 AM »
This is what TT gets for selling out and throwing look Loy under the bus...

Offline ffisback

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #69 on: May 02, 2021, 12:57:29 PM »
This is what TT gets for selling out and throwing look Loy under the bus...
When Look Loy hire Terry Fenwick he throw TT football under the bus.

Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #70 on: May 02, 2021, 05:19:53 PM »
This is what TT gets for selling out and throwing look Loy under the bus...
When Look Loy hire Terry Fenwick he throw TT football under the bus.

the board hired terry fenwick
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sh8SeGmzai4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/sh8SeGmzai4</a>

Offline ffisback

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #71 on: May 02, 2021, 07:09:15 PM »
This is what TT gets for selling out and throwing look Loy under the bus...
When Look Loy hire Terry Fenwick he throw TT football under the bus.

the board hired terry fenwick
That was a imaginary  board.

Offline Storeboy

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #72 on: May 02, 2021, 08:29:55 PM »
Scum. Pockets a pretty penny from FIFA while his players starve? What happened to getting paid for work?

There are two forms of work for which one is not compensated. One of them is known as voluntarism.

These players aren't volunteering, and this certainly isn't voluntarism/voluntourism (had a student write a disseratation about that a decade ago, interesting stuff). These are football players undertaking training for the benefit of T&T - look at how they behave about the Rangers players. No wonder they wouldn't release them, clearly there was no guarantee of insurance/compensation if they released the players they were paying.


So what are your thoughts on forced labour?

I'm not a fan, although the TTFA don't seem to mind that they're effectively forcing these players to train for free due to the collapse of their industry

Nothing is forced ... they all can just not show up to train  ... if st kitts can get a league going why cant we ?

There is no comparison between St. Kitts/Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago. There are no Covid-19 cases in St. Kitts and they have established a plan to reopen for tourism. The citizens of Trinidad and Tobago citizens are so indisciplined that the Covid-19 surges would require closure for a long time. Few people want a short term sacrifice for a long term gain.
Never, never, ever give up! Go T&T Warriors!

Offline Flex

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #73 on: May 03, 2021, 06:47:03 AM »
Normel, normel
By Fazeer Mohammed (T&T Express).


There must be some sort of illness, or maybe even a curse, which afflicts many persons in positions of authority to the extent that they are so convinced of their presumed superiority that they are incapable of appreciating the folly of their own actions, or as in the case of the Normalisation Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), their inactions.

In going against the grain of protracted silence in relation to continuous complaints about the substance and style of their FIFA-imposed governance, made many times worse by a chronic failure to communicate with several key stakeholders in the local game, the Robert Hadad-led four-member committee issued a swift response on Saturday to a letter of complaint to the world governing body, a response which told everything about their one-eyed view of the world.

For the purposes of full disclosure, let me state immediately that my family’s electrical and plumbing supplies business, of which I am a director, has had a continuous relationship with Hadco Limited (of which Robert Hadad is a co-CEO) since the establishment of Hadco’s electrical and lighting division almost 30 years ago. Also, I have known the latest addition to the Normalisation Committee, Nicholas Gomez (it was only via the reporting of his appointment that I learnt that his birth certificate first name is “Trevor”), since secondary school days when he was an outstanding middle-order batsman at Fatima College and went on to captain the national under-19 team at the 1984 West Indies youth championships before playing his lone senior national first-class game against the touring Englishmen in 1986 at the Queen’s Park Oval.

So back to the issue at hand.

Limitations of space don’t permit extensive detail on the letter of complaint from TTFA members to FIFA, nor are they really necessary for the purposes of discerning the obvious failings of the governance style of Hadad together with other committee members Nigel Romano, Judy Daniel and latest addition Gomez.

Whether it is Hadad personally or the collective quartet, they essentially stand accused of what can be interpreted as high-handedness as reflected in that previously mentioned failure to communicate. And in their swift response, the Normalisation Committee made clear why they are so despised by so many in local football.

In the second line of their response they state: “We understand the concerns of the TTFA Members and will be addressing those issues with the membership directly this week.”

If we ignore the eight months of legal wrangling with the eventually-deposed William Wallace administration, why has it taken five months from the actual implementation of the committee’s FIFA mandate in November of last year to acknowledge the necessity of speaking directly to the membership of the organisation they now govern?

But it is the third paragraph of the letter which confirms the aforementioned illness, or curse, if you prefer:

“It must be noted that many details outlined in the document (the complaint sent to FIFA) are inaccurate and based on assumptions. We will endeavour to improve on the communication channels between the TTFA and its membership so that the members are provided with accurate sources of information on these matters, with the aim of fostering a stronger relationship between all parties.”

This is so typical of what passes for accountability around here: hurling blame back on the complainant(s) for maybe getting things wrong in the specifics of their accusations, sidestepping the obvious issue of the communications vacuum which allows suspicions to fester, and then vow to do something (improve communication channels) which should have been done from the very outset.

And finally, to confirm that we remain in the colonial era, is the lament about washing dirty football socks in public:

“It is however unfortunate that this letter, which was sent internally, has found its way into the media space. Trust between the TTFA and its membership is paramount to develop this strong relationship and we believe that by working together earnestly, it can be achieved.”

So who has broken the bond of trust, the complainants who used the media to prompt a swift response when previously there was only silence, or the new governors who inferred by their continuous failure to communicate with key stakeholders that they were answerable only to FIFA?

Look, this is certainly not an attempt to cast clear villains and victims because the evidence of several decades of innumerable iterations of local football bacchanal makes clear that many of those who consider themselves “football people” are invariably the architects of this continually deplorable state of administrative affairs.

Still, in this specific instance, and as confirmed by their uncharacteristic knee-jerk response, this four-member team operates, like so many others at all leadership levels in this country, by decree.

What else can we expect but business as usual from a “Normalization Committee”?

RELATED NEWS

Hadad and his crew are the only ones earning from football, while they suffer T&T players and coaches.
Wayne 'Barney' Sheppard (Wired868).


The only people making money in football in Trinidad and Tobago for the last year have been non-football people.

Robert Hadad is drawing upwards of TT$40,000 per month while Judy Daniel, Nigel Romano and Trevor Gomez are banking over TT$30,000 per month—based on the standard sums given to Fifa-appointed normalisation committee members elsewhere.

They are all gainfully employed in other fields and have been touted and paraded as successes there.

Yet Hadad says he won’t pay the local-based national players a stipend when they have no club football to draw a dollar from—although the normalisation committee got at least US$1.5m (TT$10.2m) in Covid-19 relief funding on top of its US$1.2m (TT$8.14m) annual subvention.

None of the other committee members objected to his statement, so it stands to reason that they agree.

Hadad lied and said he paid the national coaches. He didn’t. The rest of the normalisation committee said nothing; so they too lied.

Yet without those very players and coaches who they refuse to pay, there would be no football and no need for their committee.

Those are not the actions of successful business persons. Those are the actions of scabs.

TTFA stakeholders chide FIFA appointee.
T&T Express Reports.


HADAD UNDER FIRE

IT’S AKIN to parents complaining about their child’s behaviour.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) stakeholders have complained to football governing body FIFA about the conduct of Robert Hadad, chairman of the normalisation committee appointed last March to reorganise the financially-strapped local association.

Yesterday, in a signed letter, the stakeholders, comprising several board members, wrote Hadad citing several disagreements with the way in which he is running football.

Carbon-copied to FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura and normalisation committee members Nigel Romano, Judy Daniel and Trevor Gomez, the business communiqué critiqued Hadad’s management style.

The 15-page letter bore the signatures of Brent Sancho, acting TT Pro League chairman; Referees Association president Osmond Downer; Secondary Schools League president Merere Gonzales; Eastern Football Association president Kieron Edwards; Northern Football Association president Ross Russell; Southern Football Association president Richard Quan Chan; Central Football Association president Shamdeo Gosein and Eastern Counties Football Association vice-president Ian Pritchard.

The last time stakeholders were so unanimous in their action, it led to former TTFA president Williams Wallace being told that he did not have stakeholders’ support for court action and paved the way for Hadad’s normalisation committee taking over.

Now stakeholders also seem dissatisfied with Hadad as well. Coaches, players and staff have either not been paid or are not being paid on time and Hadad, a local businessman with no football history, is accused of ignoring the input of the people involved in football.

Hadad did not respond to enquiries by the Sunday Express yesterday, however, the TTFA later issued the following press statement: “The normalisation committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has received a letter from TTFA members on 1 May 2021. We understand the concerns of the TTFA members and will be addressing those issues with the membership directly this week.

“It must be noted that many details outlined in the document are inaccurate and based on assumptions. We will endeavour to improve on the communication channels between the TTFA and its membership so that the members are provided with accurate sources of information on these matters, with the aim of fostering a stronger relationship between all parties.”

One of the main issues TTFA stakeholders have with Hadad is what they see as his failure to communicate.

“The SSFL’s position is simply the need to have a meeting,” schools league president Gonzales told the Sunday Express. “We think it is long overdue that a meeting should be held with the stakeholders.”

The letter to Hadad added: “To date, there has been no communication between the normalisation committee and the members of the TTFA, no monthly management reports presented to members since the committee’s appointment in March 2020, no budgets or projected cash flow statements for the year 2021. Please note as members of the TTFA we are very concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability regarding the day-to-day affairs of the Association.”

Hadad was also chided for hiring foreign coaches instead of looking at less expensive local alternatives.

“In an already cash-strapped environment, would it not be more prudent to retain our well capable local coaches for a reasonable cost? We the members are of the opinion that this is not financially prudent and it clearly illustrates poor financial management, which is contrary to your instructions given by FIFA,” the letter stated.

“There are also examples of the futsal and the beach soccer where you have hired expensive foreign coaches during this financially turbulent time when you need to manage our limited funds wisely of which you have not been doing. Your spending on coaches is exorbitant, excessive and ridiculous. Such expenditure cannot be justified given your debt management mandate by FIFA. Since your appointment on the 27th of March 2020, there seems to be an increase in expenditure for the TTFA,” it was noted.

The stakeholders also wanted to know what Hadad had done in a year to reduce the $50 million-plus TTFA debt.

“We the undersigned request that you notify us of the debt repayment plan that has been implemented by the normalisation committee and as mandated by FIFA. This is also critical, since this was the primary reason behind FIFA removing the duly elected administration and installing yourself as chairman of the normalisation committee and yet you too have been unable to present a practical and workable financially prudent debt repayment plan.”

The TTFA stakeholders also want Hadad’s explanation about issues surrounding the contract of current men’s national team head coach Terry Fenwick. They also raised Hadad’s failure to adequately address Fenwick’s conduct, following last month’s public bust-up with TTFA media officer Shaun Fuentes.

« Last Edit: May 03, 2021, 06:50:30 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 asylumseeker

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #74 on: May 03, 2021, 07:39:32 AM »
If Sancho could sign the letter, what reservations could a non-signatory have?

Offline Deeks

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #75 on: May 03, 2021, 10:28:22 AM »
This is what TT gets for selling out and throwing look Loy under the bus...
When Look Loy hire Terry Fenwick he throw TT football under the bus.

the board hired terry fenwick
That was a imaginary  board.

Most of us in the beginning had some reservations but eventually accepted TF appointment. Like I said, TF lives in TT and has coached in TT for over 20 years. But I became sour on the appointment after reading about the extra deal Wallace had made for him. Then Wallace got fired and he remained coach. Shouldn't TF been fired with Wallace ? Wallace did the limbo for him and got flambo. He is still the coach. Try and make some sense out of that, nah!

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Time to talk
« Reply #76 on: May 12, 2021, 01:14:42 PM »
Time to talk
By Garth Wattley (T&T Express)


There can be fewer hotter heads in the land right now than those of the Prime Minister, Minister of Health, the Chief Medical officer and his staff. Blame it on the insidious Covid-19.

But these must also be very uncomfortable times for Robert Hadad. As a businessman, he probably has to work some minor miracles to cope with the fallout that from Covid and the Government restrictions are producing for employers and their employees. And specifically as the man tasked principally with bringing normalcy to the finances of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, Hadad and the fellow members of his normalisation committee have a near mission impossible to perform.

Nearly 14 months into the job that is supposed to last two years, it doesn’t appear that he is succeeding.

In his end of year message in December, Hadad tried to sound positive and progressive.

“We have encountered a trying and difficult year and we are looking forward to a brighter 2021. What we put into our football now, determines the end result...

“We are currently focused on a strategic planning process as it is imperative that our plan is locked in place and becomes a blueprint for long-term growth and stability. I take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders for their ongoing support and patience over the past few months. We have and will continue to invest significant time and energy into getting the best outcome for the country.”

Sounded good

In that message Hadad had also promised:”We will update you on our plans as they evolve, as we work towards being in a position to share our future strategies. Additionally we are currently in a process of forging stronger relationships with our existing partners and stakeholders and do have plans to ensure they are part of our future success.”

But as the months have passed, the patience of the “stakeholders” seems to be running out and the relationship between the committee and the wider football community appears as harmonious as was the one between Hadad’s group and the deposed administration of William Wallace. I’m sure you recall the legal to-ing and fro-ing, the suspending and all the rest that occurred last year when FIFA decided to get rid of Wallace and his duly elected team.

There is no FIFA threat now, but discontent is simmering.

Coaches and technical staff have continued to complain about salaries owed. And in recent weeks, strongly-worded missives have appeared separately in the media from the coaches association and a group of stakeholders complaining about how the normalisation committee has been conducting its business.

“To date, there has been no communication between the normalisation committee and the members of the TTFA, no monthly management reports presented to members since the committee’s appointment in March 2020, no budgets or projected cash flow statements for the year 2021. Please note as members of the TTFA we are very concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability regarding the day-to-day affairs of the Association,” the concerned stakeholders wrote in part in a 15-page letter copied to FIFA.

The group also questioned the quality of the normalisation committee’s decision-making when it came to the recent appointments of foreign coaches.

“In an already cash-strapped environment, would it not be more prudent to retain our well capable local coaches for a reasonable cost? We the members are of the opinion that this is not financially prudent and it clearly illustrates poor financial management which is contrary to your instructions given by FIFA.”

In response, Hadad promised to meet with the group and respond to what he claimed were some inaccuracies in their claims. But up to the weekend past, no talks had taken place.

The media have been no more successful in getting details out of the normalisation people. Just why Hadad is so reluctant to engage with the people in football is anyone’s guess.

No doubt he has taken on an onerous job with no easy solutions. But trust has to be built at some point.

As finance people delving into football business, Hadad and his committee need those with the football expertise to help them run the game. Just to what extent the normalisation committee is using those resources is not clear at all.

From the noises of the stakeholders, one would have to say they are relying on a precious few.

Covid-19 has made the playing of the game impossible. But those who have played football, including Hadad, will know that team mates need to talk during a match. They need to alert each other to danger from the opposition or of the chance to launch an attack themselves. Victory on the field could depend on good calling.

So Mr Hadad, it’s more than time to do some real talking.
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #77 on: May 12, 2021, 05:09:16 PM »
Remember Hadad was handed this position. He really doesn't have any stake in the game. My prediction, he resigns and rides away on his jack ass before the end of the year. .

Offline Tiresais

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #78 on: May 13, 2021, 12:14:49 AM »
Remember Hadad was handed this position. He really doesn't have any stake in the game. My prediction, he resigns and rides away on his jack ass before the end of the year. .

He'll collect his 2 year contract, why wouldn't he? There's clearly no accountability or expectations for his role and he's being paid stupid money for nothing

Offline gawd on pitch

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #79 on: May 13, 2021, 07:22:22 AM »
Remember Hadad was handed this position. He really doesn't have any stake in the game. My prediction, he resigns and rides away on his jack ass before the end of the year. .

He'll collect his 2 year contract, why wouldn't he? There's clearly no accountability or expectations for his role and he's being paid stupid money for nothing

As a businessman, this negative press can trickle into his other business. Just an observation. .

He does not seem to know what he is doing. Which he'll probably admit soon.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #80 on: May 13, 2021, 07:44:35 AM »
Remember Hadad was handed this position. He really doesn't have any stake in the game. My prediction, he resigns and rides away on his jack ass before the end of the year. .

He'll collect his 2 year contract, why wouldn't he? There's clearly no accountability or expectations for his role and he's being paid stupid money for nothing

As a businessman, this negative press can trickle into his other business. Just an observation. .

He does not seem to know what he is doing. Which he'll probably admit soon.

On the one hand he should be concerned about perception and impact on the businesses, but not be concerned about the perception and impact on said businesses of an admission of ignorance and lack of competence?

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #81 on: May 17, 2021, 04:23:36 PM »
I eh around a lot these but doesn't seem like I'm missing much.... ::)
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Flex

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #82 on: June 29, 2021, 12:34:55 AM »
Hadad’s unconstitutional ‘meeting’ raises more questions on NC’s occupation of the TTFA
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Fifa-appointed normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad has come under fire again for repeat violations of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Constitution, after his invitation to members for a meeting provoked more questions about his leadership.

On Wednesday, TTFA acting general secretary Amiel Mohammed invited members to a ‘meeting’ on Zoom next Tuesday from 6pm to 7pm. The ‘forum’, according to Mohammed, will ‘feature a membership update presented by the NC on TTFA Affairs’.

Mohammed’s email, on behalf of the normalisation committee, did not include an agenda or suggest a stipulated question and answer segment, while a one hour timeframe for the body’s first meeting with members—16 months after its appointment—is farcical.

The more pressing issues that the normalisation committee are likely to face questions on include:

The TTFA’s debt repayment plans, Fifa’s desired constitutional amendments, the TTFA’s financial statements, the Soca Warriors’ disastrous 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, details of the Bol clothing deal, details of interim head coach Angus Eve’s contract, details of Women’s National Senior Team head coach James Thomas’ contract, details of the payoff offered to former marketing manager Peter Miller, an explanation regarding Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith’s role within the TTFA and the Men’s National Senior Team, details on former head coach Terry Fenwick’s altercation with press officer Shaun Fuentes, details on former assistant coach Kelvin Jack’s altercation with player Gary Griffith III, the legal advice that underpinned the normalisation committee’s handling of the contracts it met and entered into since its appointment, a breakdown of the match fees and television revenue pocketed for the January international friendly against the United States, and an explanation regarding where the normalisation committee currently banks the Fifa subvention to the TTFA.

And, first and foremost, why is the normalisation committee refusing to adhere to the constitution by holding a general meeting?

Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association (TTFRA) president Osmond Downer, in a response to the normalisation committee, said he is ‘thankful for the long awaited opportunity to have a membership meeting for the stakeholders of the TTFA to be updated on the activities of the NC’. 

However, he also expressed concern about the invitation.

“What is the status or nature of this ‘meeting’?” asked Downer, in an email seen by Wired868. “From your request for members ‘to send their delegates’ email addresses’, it would appear to be a ‘general meeting’. But, what kind of general meeting?

“[…] Article 27 of the TTFA’s Constitution clearly lays out the requirements for the convening of an annual general meeting with required days notice etc. This ‘meeting’ certainly does not fulfil the requirements of Article 27.   

“[…] Again the convening of this meeting does not fulfil the requirements of article 29, for example, the requirement for ‘at least 10 days notice before the date of an EGM’.

“So, this ‘meeting’ cannot be classified as a constitutionally valid general meeting of the TTFA. Perhaps it can be labelled as an informal meeting or gathering of the members of the TTFA.”

What is the difference between a properly constituted meeting and an informal one?

The former ensures specific rights to the bodies which comprise the TTFA, as relates to the information they are due and demands they can make of local football’s current management body.

In an informal meeting, Hadad can merely share what he chooses before signing off. Such a conclave would allow the normalisation committee to claim—at least to gullible or uninformed parties—that it has met stakeholders, without offering any value to the members whose interest they are supposed to serve.

Downer’s closing sentence was instructive.

“One would presume that, at the meeting, questions and even suggestions for improvement will be allowed from the stakeholders,” said Downer.

It was half-statement, half-question. And it was telling that he saw it necessary to raise it at all.

Hadad apart, the Fifa-appointed normalisation committee comprises Judy Daniel, Nigel L Romano and Trevor Nicholas Gomez.

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: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #83 on: January 04, 2022, 02:42:51 PM »
Fifa admits Hadad’s NC has struggled with mandate; then extends their TTFA control for another year
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


The Bureau of the Fifa Council, headed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, has extended the mandate for its normalisation committee in Trinidad and Tobago until 31 March 2023.

The move means that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA)—and all organised football on the two-island republic—will remain under the thumb of Fifa-appointed normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad for at least three years.

The TTFA was due to return to an elected leadership by 18 March 2022, exactly two years after Fifa seized control of the association—supposedly owing to concerns over the local football body’s debts. However,on 17 December, the Bureau unilaterally ruled that it will retain control of the TTFA. The decision was formally communicated to Trinidad and Tobago today, on Christmas Eve, by Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura.

The Bureau comprises AFC president Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, CAF president Patrice Motsepe, Concacaf Victor Montagliani, Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez and OFC president Lambert Maltock.

Samoura attributed the ruling by the Infantino-led body to an amalgam of issues from the protracted departure of the previous board, headed by TTFA president William Wallace, to Covid-19.

Notably, though, Fifa did not initially deviate from its proposed March 2022 handover of the TTFA’s reins when Wallace finally stepped aside on 20 October 2020—at which time the world had already acknowledged the significant disruption posed by the novel coronavirus.

It is more likely, then, that Fifa’s decision to remain is down to the inability of Hadad and fellow normalisation committee members Judy Daniel, Nigel Romano and Trevor Nicholas Gomez to successfully complete their tasks.

‘The Bureau also took note that there were certain issues that led to the backlog in the normal operations of the TTFA, including finance,’ stated the Fifa missive. ‘This contributed to the inability to appoint an independent auditor, which in turn meant that no audited financial statements could be prepared (and thus presented); the inability to make payments directly to the TTFA’s bank account due to a high risk of garnishment, thereby restricting the TTFA from making immediate payments when necessary and having more freedom with regard to the use of the funds; and the budget cuts imposed due to the multiple claims and payment demands from creditors.

‘Finally, the Bureau acknowledged that in November 2021, due to the current total debts of the TTFA, the normalisation committee notified the Office of the Supervisor of Insolvency of its intention to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Trinidad and Tobago (hereinafter: the Act).’

The mandate of the Hadad-led normalisation is: ‘to run the TTFA’s daily affairs, to establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA administration, to review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary), and ensure their compliance with the Fifa Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress, and to organise and conduct elections of a new TTFA executive committee for a four-year mandate’.

If Fifa is concerned about the slow pace of the financial reforms necessary within the TTFA, local stakeholders have complained for months about Hadad’s refusal to abide by the constitution—in particular, his disinclination to activate standing committees to assist in the running of the sport.

Other ‘normalised’ football nations, including Guyana, retained standing committees. However, Hadad, Daniel, Romano, Gomez and acting general secretary Amiel Mohammed have generally tried to run football themselves, when—in the case of the committee members—they are not looking after their regular jobs.

In the last two years, only the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s and Women’s National Senior Teams have been operational–and even then only sporadically. The TTFA recently began screening for the Men’s National Under-20 and Women’s National Under-20 and Under-17 Teams.

Samoura’s statement regarding ‘the inability to make payments directly to the TTFA’s bank account due to a high risk of garnishment’ is sure to interest dozen of attorneys too, who have been anxious for proof that the local football body is ‘hiding’ money from its creditors.

The TTFA banks roughly US$1.5 mil (TT$10.2 mil) from Fifa in subventions every year. Hadad is believed to earn US$6,500 (TT$44,000) per month from Fifa for his duties as chairman, while the other committee members collect US$4,000 (TT$27,000) each.

Fifa’s response to the sluggish reform under Hadad and company is now to give more time to the controversial administrators rather than to replace them or leave the mess in the hands of a new football president.

‘Under the above-described circumstances and considering all the urgent and complex challenges the TTFA is still facing,’ stated Samoura, ‘the Bureau decided on 17 December 2021 to extend the mandate of the normalisation committee until 31 March 2023 at the latest.’

Fifa’s unilateral decision to remain in charge of the TTFA was predicted by former board member Keith Look Loy and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis.

There is precedent too abroad. Fifa extended its mandate to the normalisation committee of Egypt on three occasions, while Pakistan’s committee got four extensions—on 15 June 2020, 31 December 2020, 30 June 2021 and 30 September 2021.

In the case of the latter body, Pakistani football stakeholders ‘reclaimed control’ of its association by refusing to recognise the foreign-led committee. As a result, Pakistan football remains suspended by Fifa.

Fifa’s ability to dissolve democratically elected football bodies across the globe, on the whims of a seven-member committee established in Zurich, hinges on Article 8.2 of the Fifa Statutes, which states: ‘executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the Council, in consultation with the relevant confederation, and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specific period of time.’

And, as Trinidad and Tobago football stakeholders are now aware, that ‘specific period of time’ can also be changed unilaterally by Fifa.

With local football administrators cowering, Infantino will relinquish control of the two-island republic’s football only when he is good and ready.

(Fifa Statement)

Dear Mr Hadad,

We are writing to inform you that the situation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (hereinafter: TTFA) has been brought to the attention of the Bureau of the Fifa Council (hereinafter: the Bureau).

The Bureau was reminded that in accordance with article 8 paragraph 2 of the FIFA Statutes, a normalisation committee was appointed for the TTFA, whose tasks are to run the TTFA’s daily affairs, to establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA administration, to review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary), and ensure their compliance with the Fifa Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress, and to organise and conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate.

In addition, the Bureau was reminded that, in September 2020, in accordance with article 16 paragraph 1 of the Fifa Statutes, the TTFA was suspended with immediate effect due the fact that members of the former Board of Directors of the TTFA had appealed the above-mentioned decision of the Bureau before the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago.

In November 2020, FIFA was informed that all claims against it before the ordinary courts of Trinidad and Tobago had been closed. Consequently, the suspension of the TTFA was lifted with immediate effect.

The Bureau took note that the actions taken by members of the former Board of Directors of the TTFA greatly hindered and significantly impacted the work and mandate of the normalisation committee, as it had to devote considerable effort to countering such actions.

In addition, that the tasks assigned to the normalisation committee were subsequently delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and sanitary restrictions imposed by the government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Bureau also took note that there were certain issues that led to the backlog in the normal operations of the TTFA, including finance.

This contributed to the inability to appoint an independent auditor, which in turn meant that no audited financial statements could be prepared (and thus presented); the inability to make payments directly to the TTFA’s bank account due to a high risk of garnishment, thereby restricting the TTFA from making immediate payments when necessary and having more freedom with regard to the use of the funds; and the budget cuts imposed due to the multiple claims and payment demands from creditors.

Finally, the Bureau acknowledged that in November 2021, due to the current total debts of the TTFA, the normalisation committee notified the Office of the Supervisory of Insolvency of its intention to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Trinidad and Tobago (hereinafter: the Act).

The normalisation committee together with a licensed trustee under the Act will therefore manage the debt proposal process.

Under the above-described circumstances and considering all the urgent and complex challenges the TTFA is still facing, the Bureau decided on 17 December 2021 to extend the mandate of the normalisation committee until 31 March 2023 at the latest.

We thank you for taking note of the above and remain at your disposal in case of queries.

Yours sincerely,

RELATED NEWS

Dear Editor: Cowed TTFA members got what they deserved from abusive Fifa and hapless Hadad
Wired868.com


“[…] Despite occasional mutterings, all those who pilloried and cursed William Wallace and Keith Look Loy to leave forthwith in 2020 have been silent since we left. Not a word from them.

“So much for their ‘love for the youths’. They are cowed into subservience to Fifa because they are afraid to stand on their own legs like free people, and are addicted to dependence on FIFA funding—which never reaches down to the membership, and which they never receive the benefit of…”

The following Letter to the Editor on Fifa’s unilateral decision to extend its ‘normalisation’ of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) to three years was submitted to Wired868 by former TTFA board member and TTSL president Keith Look Loy:

Wow! So Fifa has extended the reign of the emperor who has no clothes. What a surprise!

Well, not really. I saw this one coming from around the block many months ago.

Despite the demonstrated failure of those who populate the Fifa normalisation committee—by which I mean their clear failure to 1) produce a viable plan to save the Association from historic debt and immediate ruin, and 2) prepare amendments to the existing TTFA Constitution, which was approved by Fifa in 2015—the world body has rewarded Robert Hadad and his merry band with another year of Fifa US dollar stipends.

Hadad hasn’t initiated ONE discussion with the membership regarding constitutional matters since March 2020. His response to his mandate to solve the financial predicament of the Association is a joke.

We remember only too well his initial tilt at debt repayment—begging the government and the private sector for donations. This from a ‘big business’ man.

Now, the Association is in the hands of bankruptcy experts. This failure is buttressed by Fifa’s apparent lack of care for membership concerns regarding financial transparency.

At the recently held AGM, members were bullied into accepting a financial statement that they initially refused to approve only because Fifa ‘reminded’ them that TTFA would not receive its annual Fifa subvention without an approved statement.

The truth is that TTFA stability and viability were never Fifa concerns—witness Fifa’s mollycoddling of the dodgy David John-Williams-led administration and its futile effort to have DJW returned to office in November 2019.

The truth is that TTFA is merely one part of the Caribbean and African vote farm that Fifa leaders harvest at will.

The truth is that the Fifa bosses need to retain control of TTFA and to secure its vote in FIFA Congress.

That security was assured with the DJW administration in place, but was threatened by the election of the William Wallace-led administration, which Fifa promptly removed.

God alone knows who and what will inherit TTFA from Hadad. Fifa is probably scared stiff of a possible return by United TTFA (which I can say is not going to happen).

It is in Fifa’s interest to maintain the current, failed status quo for another 15 months.

But THIS is exactly what TTFA members wrote to Gianni Infantino on bended knee, LITERALLY begging for. They begged Fifa to impose its normalisation committee. Well, they got EXACTLY what they asked for.

And now, despite occasional mutterings, all those who pilloried and cursed Wallace and Keith Look Loy to leave forthwith in 2020 have been silent since we left. Not a word from them.

So much for their ‘love for the youths’. They are cowed into subservience to Fifa because they are afraid to stand on their own legs like free people, and are addicted to dependence on FIFA funding—which never reaches down to the membership, and which they never receive the benefit of.

People will use and abuse you as you allow them to. Unfortunately, Trinidad and Tobago football deserves the contempt with which it is being treated by its masters in Zurich. Just so we like it.

Cry for our beloved country.

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

Offline Tallman

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Re: Robert Hadad Thread
« Reply #84 on: December 13, 2022, 10:17:07 AM »
Hadad: I will go if they want me out...but FIFA will decide
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)


Robert Hadad, chairman of the FIFA-installed Normalisation Committee, will move full-speed ahead to ensure that an order given by the local football members to prepare for the election of a new executive by March 18 is carried out.

This order came following an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) on Saturday at the Home of Football in Balmain, Couva, in which a motion was moved 20-5 in favour of the normalisation committee completing the mandate given by FIFA, and fresh elections are called.

The membership of the TTFA, which was represented by 25 out of the 47 members, has also called for constitutional reform.

Hadad said on Sunday that he intends to follow the constitution, but will await directives from the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, on how they will move.

He is set to meet with FIFA officials Monday to give an update on what transpired at the weekend.

“If FIFA wants me to stay then they will have to address the membership,” Hadad said.

Hadad, in his term in office, along with other members, has not had the best of times. He has been accused of mismanagement and failure to achieve the mandate given to him by the FIFA in March 2020 and despite being given an extension to March 2023, he is again being hounded out of office.

On March 17, 2020, FIFA appointed a normalisation committee for the TTFA in accordance with Art. 8 par. 2 of the FIFA Statutes that followed a fact-finding mission to assess the financial situation of TTFA. From this mission, it was found that there were extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with massive debt, that placed the TTFA at a real risk of insolvency and illiquidity.

As such a normalisation committee was appointed to achieve the mandate of running the TTFA’S daily affairs; to establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; to review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and to ensure their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress; as well as to organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate.

Hadad was quizzed on when he believes the work of the normalisation committee will be concluded, said he does not have a clue, based on a number of unsolved arrangements.

“The financial arrangement is not finalised so the debt has not been paid, so the facts are that we still have two court matters pending with Terry Fenwick and Peter Miller.

“Now maybe they’re thinking that they can manage the process from here on and maybe they’re right, but the trustee (Maria Daniel) will have to address that situation because at the end of the day the way, I read the bankruptcy and insolvency act, the trustee must not only pay the debt but must form the organisation, so the organisation, the methods of procurement, the accounting systems and the manner in which they about it must be dealt with,” Hadad said.

He noted: “I have no direction as yet from FIFA because what the members have done is to say it has to be done by March 18, unless the constitutional reform can be done whilst the new ex-co is in place.

“I have to leave by March 18, if that’s what the members want. If they want an election then my last day is March 18, that is a fact because I will follow the constitution, I have to follow the constitution.”
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

 

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