The T&T Football Federation (TTFF) was yesterday granted leave to withdraw its appeal against an order for it to uphold an agreement to pay 16 members of the 2006 T&T World Cup squad bonuses and legal costs.
A TTFF official said the move to withdraw the appeal was in good faith but declined to comment further. The matter was heard in the Court of Appeal before Justice Paula Mae-Weekes in closed chamber court.
In September 2010, High Court Justice Davindra Rampersad enforced the judgment of the London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP) on the matter.
The SDRP in its ruling on May 19, 2008, recognised a contract made by Works and Transport Minister and TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner with the players.
The SDRP held that the ‘Soca Warriors’ were owed 50 per cent of all 2006 World Cup commercial revenue and declared an immediate independent audit of the local football body's financial books for that period.
The players included Shaka Hislop, Kelvin Jack, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Ian Cox, Brent Sancho, Aurtis Whitley, Collin Samuel, Evans Wise, Anthony Wolfe, Cornell Glen, Kenwyne Jones and Stern John.
The TTFF were represented by Balliram and Om Lalla, while attorney Dave De Peiza represented the group.