THIRTEEN Trinidad and Tobago players, members of the 2006 World Cup team, have been given a $7 million payment by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), as ordered in February by Justice Devindra Rampersad.
The payment came after a drawn out court battle between the players, known as the Soca Warriors, and the TTFF over revenue derived from Trinidad and Tobago's qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Trinidad and Tobago is the smallest-ever nation to have qualified for the competition.
Those benefiting from the payment are Brent Sancho, Shaka Hislop, Kelvin Jack, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Avery John, Aurtis Whitley, Collin Samuel, Evans Wise, Anthony Wolfe, Cornell Glen, Kenwyne Jones and Stern John.
TTFF president Oliver Camps said yesterday he was aware that something was done, but referred the Express to the Federation's attorney Om Lalla and general secretary Richard Groden for further details.
Effort to contact both parties proved futile, but Sancho confirmed that the players had received a payment.
"We got the interim payment as ordered by the court. It was late, but it came late last week," said Sancho.
He said the next step was that the TTFF had until May 31 to present audited accounts, as ordered by the High Court, and then the parties will go back to court on June 16 for further deliberation.
Asked if the five-year battle with the Federation was worth it, Sancho had mixed feelings.
"In terms of bringing accountability to football, I would say yes. But it will be interesting to see what type of accounts the TTFF presents. They should have been preparing yearly accounts as any properly-run organisation.
"The strange thing is while questions are being asked worldwide, no one in Trinidad and Tobago, not the Prime Minister or Minister of Sport have asked a question about accountability in Trinidad football," stated Sancho.
"On the other hand, I would say that, personally, this fight was not worth it. It's good for the players to get a little money in their pockets, but when one looks at the blacklisting of players, loss of earnings and career...it's not worth it."
The footballers had taken the Federation to court in a dispute over revenue collected during the successful campaign which led to their qualifying for the World Cup in Germany. They argued that some US$40 million in commercial revenue was derived from the campaign and that TTFF special adviser and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner had promised them a 50 per cent share of the revenue.
Local court proceedings were filed in November 2008 at the Port of Spain High Court, where players asked the High Court to enforce the judgement of the London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP).
In May 2008, the London body had ruled that under the terms of a contract agreed to by Warner, the Soca Warriors were owed 50 per cent of all 2006 World Cup revenue.
After several legal submissions in Trinidad and Tobago courts, Justice Rampersad eventually ruled in February that the TTFF must make an interim payment.
During the proceedings, lawyers Om Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon represented the TTFF, while attorneys Michael Tong-Lee, Dave DePeiza and George Hislop sought the players' interests.