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Post by Admin on Aug 23, 2020 9:26:09 GMT
Court Ruling A Victory For World Football, Says Wallace jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20200816/court-ruling-victory-world-football-says-wallacePORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC): Deposed Trinidad and Tobago Football Association president, William Wallace, has described Thursday’s ruling of the High Court as a victory for world football and has made it clear that neither he, nor his team of ousted TTFA members currently challenging FIFA, feared any reprisals by the powerful football world governing body. The High Court here ruled that the dispute between the former TTFA executives and FIFA could be heard in the local jurisdiction, instead of the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport as contended by FIFA. Wallace, along with former vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Sam Phillip, are challenging FIFA’s takeover of the TTFA last March and the appointment of a normalisation committee to run the body’s interim’s affairs. And even though speculation is rife that the court ruling could see FIFA slapping sanctions on the TTFA or Wallace and his team, the embattled former football head said they were prepared for any consequences, especially since they had taken a stand against injustice. TIME TO STAND UP “Sometimes you have to just stand up for something and I think this was the time for us to stand up,” Wallace said. “We were given the opportunity and … we had all four persons who were like-minded on this. When we sat down and discussed this, we discussed the possible consequences of individuals being affected and everybody agreed it was the right moment. “I think this is the right moment for world football simply because people from other confederations are speaking out at the moment about things like this and therefore it might be very well what is needed to bring about some changes that would affect sport in a positive way.” He continued: “We took this action as people who were given a mandate by the electorate and then removed. We took this action based on that. So that if they’re any sanctions to come down, that it will come down on the individuals who took the action and not on the FA. “We are ready … that if that is what happens – that we are sanctioned or banned or whatever as individuals – I have no problem with that. Having stood up for something, that is the consequences of standing up sometimes.” In a 24-page ruling, Madam Justice Carol Gobin said there was an “inherent contradiction” in FIFA’s appointment of the normalisation committee with full powers to run the TTFA, and “its insistence on holding the TTFA to the arbitration agreement on the other”. Since FIFA was disputing the authority of Wallace and his team, Justice Gobin said “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.” More critically, the court concluded that arbitration was not the “appropriate forum” for the settlement of the ongoing 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.” Wallace, who was elected TTFA president last November, said the ruling was a huge filip in his team’s quest for justice. “We are extremely happy. All we have been asking for is a chance to be heard and if this is the first step towards that, then we’re extremely happy,” he explained. “We have always said that we wanted an opportunity to discuss the decision of FIFA. We wanted to do it through mediation which we thought was better for all of us and we have reached out over four times and that did not happen and this is the next step. “We followed the directions of FIFA vis-à-vis challenging matters like this. We went to CAS and of course everybody knows what happened there and we [went] back to Trinidad and Tobago. “All we are looking for is a chance to be heard because we think that natural justice was not meted out to us. We never had a chance to say anything, we never had a chance to defend ourselves – nothing. And that’s all we want: that chance to be heard.”
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Post by Admin on Aug 23, 2020 9:28:05 GMT
Sancho: Selfishness will cost TT football
JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH YESTERDAY newsday.co.tt/2020/08/22/sancho-selfishness-will-cost-tt-football/Brent Sancho - Brent Sancho - The decision by ousted TT Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace and his executive to pursue the ongoing dispute with FIFA at the TT High Court can end all hopes of this nation’s 2022 World Cup qualification bid and effectively end the careers of some of TT’s most prolific footballers. TTFA board member Brent Sancho believes the actions of Wallace will have far-reaching consequences when FIFA decides to put its foot down. In FIFA’s most recent statement on the matter, on Thursday, the world governing body warned that Wallace’s “insistence” to bring this matter to a local court instead of “the established dispute resolution forum at the Court of Arbitration for Sport greatly endangers the position of TT football internationally.” It also stated, “The absence of a resolution that is in line with the statutes of both FIFA and the TTFA will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and potential further action.” In a telephone interview with Newsday on Friday, Sancho, a 2006 World Cup player, questioned whether Wallace and his axed executive have considered the negative impact their stance could have on both the local administration and its players. He said, “Their (FIFA) actions could vary from suspension to expulsion. FIFA’s statutes are abundantly clear. Wallace and Co need to understand they’re putting our 2022 World Cup qualification campaign at risk. If we are suspended, worse yet expelled, would that not severely hamper or immediately end our chances of qualifying for Qatar? “If TT is banned from football activity, you are ending the careers of (national players) Khaleem Hyland, Marvin Phillip and the other young men who have a great opportunity to qualify for the World Cup. You are going to end their career because of your selfish ways. Has Wallace spoken to any of the national players how they feel on this?” Sancho challenged Wallace and the United TTFA to seek a mandate from the over 45-member TTFA membership on their decision to legally tackle FIFA on local soil. Sancho is of firm belief the ousted executive will not gather more than 50 percent of the membership’s support and should give up their protest on FIFA’s decision to remove the executive and appoint a normalisation committee. “I can guarantee and only until he (Wallace) can show that, he and his vice-presidents are operating rogue and outside of the membership. They are now limiting decisions on the future of TT football to five or six persons, which is a complete disrespect to the membership. “If he believes this is best for TT football, bring it in front of the membership now, I dare him to do that and get the majority vote that he needs to conjure that. I can guarantee he does not have the majority and they do not feel that way. If he does not have the majority support, step aside and remove this from the local court and not allow TT to be sanctioned for selfish needs and reasons,” he added. The Central FC director also questioned why Wallace would contest for local presidency if he did not agree with FIFA’s statutes. On March 17 FIFA removed Wallace and his vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip, who were elected in November 2019. FIFA said the decision was made due to the association’s financial woes and massive debt. FIFA then placed a normalisation committee, headed by businessman Robert Hadad, to run the TTFA’s daily affairs and establish a debt repayment plan. In April, however, Wallace’s contingent appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, saying the decision was a breach of the TTFA’s constitution. Wallace's team withdrew the appeal claiming CAS would not give a “fair hearing” and instead went to the High Court in Trinidad on May 18. FIFA responded saying they do “not and will never, accept the jurisdiction of a local court in TT to decide on the legality of the appointment of a normalisation committee currently appointed to run football in the territory.” On August 13, Justice Carol Gobin rejected FIFA’s application to strike out the claim because its rules prevents member federations and associations from commencing proceedings against it in their local courts. Gobin said, “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." Former TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy on Friday said he was not surprised by FIFA’s resistance of the local court’s decision. He claims taking the matter to the CAS is a clear plan to hide the inconsistencies of past administrations and gain a legal advantage in Zurich. “What they are afraid of doing is submitting themselves to the court (local) for this substantive matter, which is whether FIFA has the authority to remove a democratically-elected executive and impose a committee from outside. That hearing is going to go into all of the mismanagement of the past administrations and the role of FIFA in that. “I have maintained from the start that this is what the normalisation committee is all about and I hold to that. They don’t want to get to the substantive matter that’s why they want to get it out of TT and off to Switzerland where they have control over the process and information,” said Look Loy. The United TTFA member also believes the current court matter would not affect TT’s World Cup qualification campaign. He has even requested FIFA disburse its annual allocation (approximately US$3m) and the US$500,000 covid19 release funds promised by the Gianni Infantino-led organisation to each of the 211 national associations. Look Loy continued, “If all parties involved claim to be interested in TT football, the normalisation committee would get the money from FIFA to finance this World Cup campaign while we fight it out in the courtroom. Football can still go on, on the field. I challenge them to do that. I would encourage them to find the money from our outstanding FIFA allocation.” The FC Santa Rosa president added, “The next step is that they (FIFA) have to submit their appeal and then we would have to submit our response to that. A High Court judge would be appointed, he or she would set a date and the hearing will proceed. The judge will take however long to arrive at a decision. In principle, this could take months. That’s the legal procedure.”
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Post by Admin on Aug 23, 2020 9:32:05 GMT
TTFA in danger of FIFA sanctions — Harris
CMC guardian.co.tt/sports/ttfa-in-danger-of-fifa-sanctions--harris-6.2.1182699.a2184cfba8Caribbean Football Union (CFU) boss, Randy Harris, believes Trinidad and Tobago Football Association will face sanction from FIFA, following the landmark decision handed down in the High Court here this week against the powerful world governing body. While stressing that he did not speak on the behalf of the Zurich-based organisation, Barbadian Harris indicated that there was precedent for action against the TTFA, as FIFA often tried to discourage member associations from legal disputes. “I can’t really speak for FIFA but normally that would be the case – suspension of the member association,” said Harris, also a vice-president of the continental governing body, CONCACAF. “FIFA can make that decision of suspension but it is up to the congress to decide if they would agree with that suspension or not. But I believe that some action will be taken against Trinidad and Tobago. “I’m hoping that won’t be the case because this is the first time such a decision has been made in the football world and we will all wait to see how FIFA deals with the matter.” In a landmark 24-page ruling this week, Madam Justice Carol Gobin concluded that arbitration was not the “appropriate forum” for the settlement of the ongoing dispute. The ruling was a blow to FIFA’s bid to have the dispute with the TTFA heard by the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. “This is a matter which falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the High Court of this country. This is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports,” the court said. Harris, the president of the Barbados Football Association, told i95FM Sports on Thursday that the ruling would resonate among member associations especially since it impacted the established system of governance enforced by FIFA. “But I can tell you, this is a big, big decision in the football world because all of the MAs (member associations) affiliated to FIFA, is at this time believing they play under the FIFA statutes and their governance,” Harris explained. “And this plays a different tune so we will wait and see what FIFA has to say about and of course I hope that everything runs well for Trinidad and Tobago.” He continued: “This decision really turns this over on their heads because all the MAs in FIFA are of the opinion that we follow the FIFA statutes and abide by the rules and regulations of FIFA. FIFA is the world football [governing] body but of course, we are independent nations. “I have not read the full judgement but I will wait and see how this pans out now for the other MAs playing under FIFA’s jurisdiction.” The dispute was triggered last March after FIFA swooped down to disband the TTFA executive and appoint a normalisation committee to run the association. Ousted president William Wallace and his three vice-presidents attempted to challenge the decision before CAS but withdrew their case after contending that FIFA was thwarting the process. Harris said because of the landmark nature of the ruling, the response of FIFA would now be a critical turning point in the matter. “I wouldn’t look at it as weakening FIFA because FIFA can never be bigger than the governance of a country,” Harris pointed out. “I think this matter of not taking [footballing] matters to the ordinary courts is a situation that FIFA introduced to prevent the going and to court action and I think that they were satisfied that they have the regulations to deal with matters where they are disputes. “This, as I say, is the first time that the statutes have been challenged in this way and we should wait and see what FIFA’s reaction to it will be.”
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Post by Admin on Aug 25, 2020 6:43:17 GMT
Griffith calls on Wallace to re-think his stance
by Walter Alibey 19 hours ago Tue Aug 25 2020 guardian.co.tt/sports/griffith-calls-on-wallace-to-rethink-his-stance-6.2.1189698.9d19ff15a0Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith 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
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Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2020 8:30:13 GMT
guardian.co.tt/sports/fifas-fiction-created-to-distract-panic-the-public-6.2.1190682.ac231f719cFIFA's fiction created to distract, panic the public
Dear Editor, TTFA is currently locked in battle with FIFA for control of the Association. The world body refers to William Wallace and the democratically elected officers "former officers of the TTFA". Their supposed removal by FIFA under highly questionable circumstances related to TTFA Board approved corruption investigations into the mismanagenent of the David John-Williams administration and the role of FIFA officials connected to the Home of Football project. This investigation and FIFA's action to block it were consistent with current Swiss criminal investigations of FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, for obstruction of investigation and justice. To stifle the deepening investigation into its political allies in the John-Williams administration, FIFA expressly and forcefully declared that the Normalization Committee was implemented to: A. Remove and replace those committed to oppose the behaviour of the old TTFA leadership; B. Cease internal investigations into TTD 16 million in unaccounted expenditure in the Home of Football project from funds allocated by FIFA; C. Punish the TTFA membership for removing FIFA leadership ally, David John-Williams, who FIFA and CONCACAF leadership unethically and openly campaigned for one week prior to the 2019 TTFA elections. Furthermore, the recent threat by FIFA to take punitive action against TTFA has no merit and is a fiction created to distract and panic the public from the failure of Normalization Committee members to fulfill the mandate provided by FIFA to properly operate ALL components that make up a football association; including but not limited to: 1. Pay its office staff and coaches 2. Communicate with TTFA members 3. Communicate with the Trinidad and Tobago public about its so-called reformation plans. It is for the above reasons United TTFA believe the process and rationale used for implementing a Normalization Committee in Trinidad and Tobago is not only illegitimate but may also very well follow the same pattern of criminality in which Switzerland authorities are currently investigating FIFA President, Gianni Infantino_. The question must be asked: If FIFA claims to be in charge of TTFA via its so called Normalization Committee, and that the elected officers have been removed, is it then that FIFA will ban itself? Keith Look Loy President of the T&T Super League
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Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2020 8:34:35 GMT
Ousted TTFA pres responds to FIFA's appeal
by Sports Desk 2 days ago Sun Aug 23 2020 guardian.co.tt/sports/ousted-ttfa-pres-responds-to-fifas-appeal-6.2.1188490.75b611198aWilliam Wallace - Former TTFA president 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.
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Post by Admin on Aug 27, 2020 8:05:17 GMT
Natl coaches barred from entering TTFA headquartersJONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH YESTERDAY newsday.co.tt/2020/08/25/natl-coaches-barred-from-entering-ttfa-headquarters/TWENTY-ONE national coaches converged on the outskirts of the Ato Boldon Satdium in Couva, on Tuesday, to deliver a document to the TT Football Association (TTFA) secretariat highlighting their non-payment of salaries since FIFA’s installation of the normalisation committee in mid-March. The document was addressed to Robert Hadad, chairman of the normalisation committee, and also contained the coaches’ contracts and agreements, some of which come to an end on Monday. National coaches Terry Fenwick, Angus Eve, Wayne Sheppard, Stern John and Ross Russell were among the bunch who peacefully gathered outside the venue from 9.30 am to pen their signatures before disbursal. Eve, who chaired the informal meeting, revealed they have not been paid in six months and are now seeking to construct a coaches association to ensure their voices can be heard at the board level. “On April 29, the chairman met with us via Zoom call on that day and he said to the coaches and technical staff that he would get back to us and do individual meetings to validate the contracts that we have and to verify that they are all board approved. It has been about six months since then and nothing has happened,” he stated. In mid-July, TTFA office staff were finally paid after a four-month wait. However, since the removal of the democratically-appointed William Wallace executive in March by FIFA, who cited “financial mismanagement” and “massive debt” by the TTFA, under the new Hadad-led administration, coaches are yet to be paid. After the TT Government implemented lockdown restrictions in March to prevent the spread of covid19, all national team and club activity has been at a standstill. Although the coaches were unable to resume their respective training sessions due to the health crisis, to date, Hadad is yet to rectify their payment of salaries. Eve added, “We’re very happy the staff got their salaries but we’re not asking for a grant, just our salaries. The money that we signed and worked for, it’s all we’re asking for. Especially in a time when there’s a pandemic and none of us have worked since last year. We also have family, children and bills to pay. We just want our voices to be heard.” According to Naparima College football instructor, the majority of coaches were prevented from entering the Ato Boldon Stadium upon their arrival. Only a few, who arrived earlier, were allowed entry onto the compound. When they approached the security booth to query their omission, the guard stated they were given instructions “by the office” to keep the gate closed. Eve dubbed this gesture, disrespectful. “This action demonstrates the level of disrespect we have been getting as coaches. We are in charge of young people and developing young minds. Stern John, Terry Fenwick, Ross Russell. It’s a total disrespect for us to not even be able to drop off a document,” he said. Veteran national goalkeeper Clayton Ince was one of the lucky ones to gain entry to the TTFA office at the stadium. Following Eve’s short meeting with the coaches and media, Ince was allowed to come to the gate and receive their document for delivery. When he arrived, the security then allowed four additional coaches to enter alongside Ince. Eve, Sheppard, Richard Hood and another local tutor joined Ince to deliver their request to the TTFA secretariat. The former TT midfielder Eve indicated that several arrangements and contracts were due to expire at the end of August and coaches wanted to ensure their outstanding salaries would be paid. He stated that coaches have made multiple attempts to contact TTFA officials such as technical director Dion La Foucade and Emile Mohammed for an update on their salaries. All attempts proved futile.
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Post by Admin on Aug 27, 2020 8:06:56 GMT
[UPDATED] Hadad: It’s been problem after problem NARISSA FRASER 13 HRS AGO Robert Hadad - Robert Hadad -
Head of TT Football Association (TTFA) normalisation committee Robert Hadad says it has been problem after problem since his appointment after FIFA threatened to ban TT if the ousted executive does not obey its statutes. The world governing body of football issued its final warning on Wednesday.
On March 17, FIFA removed TTFA president William Wallace and his executive, who were elected in November 2019 and, instead, appointed a normalisation committee led by Hadad – a businessman – to run TTFA’s affairs.
Wallace and his executive appealed their removal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. The team later indicated it did not believe CAS would give it a “fair hearing.” So on May 18, they appealed to the local High Court.
Since then, the two bodies have been at loggerheads over which playing field their legal battle should kick off on. FIFA insists the matter can only and “must” be heard at CAS.
The most recent development was on August 12, when Justice Carol Gobin denied FIFA’s request to strike out the claim because its rules prevent member associations from starting proceedings against it in the local courts. FIFA has since appealed.
But in a letter to Hadad on Wednesday, FIFA reiterated the matter should be heard at CAS, adding that it is “very concerned regarding the decision of the claim and the argument used to dismiss FIFA’s application.
“In this context, we draw your attention to article 58 of the FIFA statutes which expressly contains the prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts of law unless specifically provided for.
“FIFA takes such a principle with utmost seriousness and therefore considers that it is the responsibility of its member associations to ensure that this principle is implemented...A failure to comply with this directive would result in the commencement of suspension proceedings via the relevant FIFA bodies.”.”
It said the ousted executive has until September 16 to withdraw its claim from the local High Court.
Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday afternoon, Hadad said, “I am trying to do a job of getting football back in good stead and (it has been) from one problem to the next...It is self-explanatory. FIFA is clear that all member associations must follow their statutes.”
He later issued a release, saying, “FIFA has been clear from the day of the appointment of the normalisation committee, and on several occasions since, that the committee alone has the mandate to run and manage the affairs of the TTFA. FIFA’s letter reaffirms this position.
“Members of the previous administration know very well that FIFA statutes require all FIFA member associations to manage disputes through CAS. And members of the previous administration also know very well the consequences for any member which disregards that key requirement for FIFA membership. Ultimately, our teams and their coaches and players, and of course our fans, are the most important thing for the future of football in our country.”
Calls to Wallace went unanswered, but Newsday understands he wrote to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday.
The letter said, “Normalisation is a draconian and unfair act which seeks to undermine the independence of the TTFA and ride roughshod over the will of the electorate who voted for the United TTFA slate in November 2019. Added to this, the fact is, that in all the countries that were normalised, in all instances, it is clear that the incumbent executive was in breach of FIFA statutes or acted in a manner that justified FIFA’s intervention. In the case of TT, the two reasons |given by FIFA for their intervention clearly had nothing to do with the new executive.”
Wallace said his team remains “willing and ready to work with FIFA to resolve the outstanding issues” but normalisation should have never been an option.
“By refusing to work together with us, and by repeatedly refusing to engage in mediation as we have called not less than six times for FIFA to do, you run the risk of irreparably damaging football in TT.“FIFA cannot continue to ignore our calls to mediate an agreement between the TTFA and FIFA and maintain any moral authority. FIFA must recognize and work with the duly elected executive of the TTFA. Likewise, TTFA must recognize, and does, the need for financial assistance and guidance from FIFA in resolving TTFA’s current financial malaise.If you will not talk and if no agreement is reached, the TTFA is left with no choice but to continue on the path FIFA has forced us down through the courts.”
TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy said he preferred to comment after he chats with the team’s lawyers – Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul – on Thursday.
Gayle told Newsday he found the latest development to be “regrettable,” adding that the letter was an “overt threat.”
Look Loy later sent Newsday a response to Hadad’s release, which was sent to the ousted executive as instructed by FIFA. He said, “Oh, he (saying he) cares about players and coaches. The day after they were locked out of the Ato Boldon Stadium, and after leaving them high and dry for five months.
“FIFA demonstrates it is prepared to throw him under the bus by charging him with getting the ‘former officers’ to drop the case.”
This story was originally published with the title "United TTFA gets September 16 deadline before FIFA ban" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
The world governing body of football, FIFA, has issued a final warning to the ousted TT Football Association (TTFA) executive to obey its statutes. FIFA said failure to comply "would result in the commencement of suspension proceedings via the relevant FIFA bodies."
On March 17, FIFA removed TTFA president William Wallace and his executive, who were elected in November 2019, instead appointing a normalisation committee led by businessman Robert Hadad to run TTFA's affairs.
Wallace and his executive appealed their removal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. The team later indicated it did not believe CAS would give it a “fair hearing." Instead – on May 18 – they appealed to the local High Court.
Since then, the two bodies have been at loggerheads over which playing field their legal battle should kick off on. FIFA insists the matter can only and "must" be heard at CAS.
The most recent development was on August 12, when Justice Carol Gobin denied FIFA’s request to strike out the claim because its rules prevent member associations from starting proceedings against it in the local courts. FIFA has since appealed.
But in a letter to Hadad on Wednesday, FIFA reiterated the matter should be heard at CAS, adding that it is "very concerned regarding the decision of the claim and the argument used to dismiss FIFA's application.
"In this context, we draw your attention to article 58 of the FIFA statutes which expressly contains the prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts of law unless specifically provided for.
"FIFA takes such a principle with utmost seriousness and therefore considers that it is the responsibility of its member associations to ensure that this principle is implemented."
It said the ousted executive has until September 16 to withdraw its claim from the local High Court.
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Post by Admin on Aug 27, 2020 8:07:21 GMT
[UPDATED] Hadad: It’s been problem after problem NARISSA FRASER 13 HRS AGO Robert Hadad - Robert Hadad -
Head of TT Football Association (TTFA) normalisation committee Robert Hadad says it has been problem after problem since his appointment after FIFA threatened to ban TT if the ousted executive does not obey its statutes. The world governing body of football issued its final warning on Wednesday.
On March 17, FIFA removed TTFA president William Wallace and his executive, who were elected in November 2019 and, instead, appointed a normalisation committee led by Hadad – a businessman – to run TTFA’s affairs.
Wallace and his executive appealed their removal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. The team later indicated it did not believe CAS would give it a “fair hearing.” So on May 18, they appealed to the local High Court.
Since then, the two bodies have been at loggerheads over which playing field their legal battle should kick off on. FIFA insists the matter can only and “must” be heard at CAS.
The most recent development was on August 12, when Justice Carol Gobin denied FIFA’s request to strike out the claim because its rules prevent member associations from starting proceedings against it in the local courts. FIFA has since appealed.
But in a letter to Hadad on Wednesday, FIFA reiterated the matter should be heard at CAS, adding that it is “very concerned regarding the decision of the claim and the argument used to dismiss FIFA’s application.
“In this context, we draw your attention to article 58 of the FIFA statutes which expressly contains the prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts of law unless specifically provided for.
“FIFA takes such a principle with utmost seriousness and therefore considers that it is the responsibility of its member associations to ensure that this principle is implemented...A failure to comply with this directive would result in the commencement of suspension proceedings via the relevant FIFA bodies.”.”
It said the ousted executive has until September 16 to withdraw its claim from the local High Court.
Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday afternoon, Hadad said, “I am trying to do a job of getting football back in good stead and (it has been) from one problem to the next...It is self-explanatory. FIFA is clear that all member associations must follow their statutes.”
He later issued a release, saying, “FIFA has been clear from the day of the appointment of the normalisation committee, and on several occasions since, that the committee alone has the mandate to run and manage the affairs of the TTFA. FIFA’s letter reaffirms this position.
“Members of the previous administration know very well that FIFA statutes require all FIFA member associations to manage disputes through CAS. And members of the previous administration also know very well the consequences for any member which disregards that key requirement for FIFA membership. Ultimately, our teams and their coaches and players, and of course our fans, are the most important thing for the future of football in our country.”
Calls to Wallace went unanswered, but Newsday understands he wrote to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday.
The letter said, “Normalisation is a draconian and unfair act which seeks to undermine the independence of the TTFA and ride roughshod over the will of the electorate who voted for the United TTFA slate in November 2019. Added to this, the fact is, that in all the countries that were normalised, in all instances, it is clear that the incumbent executive was in breach of FIFA statutes or acted in a manner that justified FIFA’s intervention. In the case of TT, the two reasons |given by FIFA for their intervention clearly had nothing to do with the new executive.”
Wallace said his team remains “willing and ready to work with FIFA to resolve the outstanding issues” but normalisation should have never been an option.
“By refusing to work together with us, and by repeatedly refusing to engage in mediation as we have called not less than six times for FIFA to do, you run the risk of irreparably damaging football in TT.“FIFA cannot continue to ignore our calls to mediate an agreement between the TTFA and FIFA and maintain any moral authority. FIFA must recognize and work with the duly elected executive of the TTFA. Likewise, TTFA must recognize, and does, the need for financial assistance and guidance from FIFA in resolving TTFA’s current financial malaise.If you will not talk and if no agreement is reached, the TTFA is left with no choice but to continue on the path FIFA has forced us down through the courts.”
TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy said he preferred to comment after he chats with the team’s lawyers – Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul – on Thursday.
Gayle told Newsday he found the latest development to be “regrettable,” adding that the letter was an “overt threat.”
Look Loy later sent Newsday a response to Hadad’s release, which was sent to the ousted executive as instructed by FIFA. He said, “Oh, he (saying he) cares about players and coaches. The day after they were locked out of the Ato Boldon Stadium, and after leaving them high and dry for five months.
“FIFA demonstrates it is prepared to throw him under the bus by charging him with getting the ‘former officers’ to drop the case.”
This story was originally published with the title "United TTFA gets September 16 deadline before FIFA ban" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
The world governing body of football, FIFA, has issued a final warning to the ousted TT Football Association (TTFA) executive to obey its statutes. FIFA said failure to comply "would result in the commencement of suspension proceedings via the relevant FIFA bodies."
On March 17, FIFA removed TTFA president William Wallace and his executive, who were elected in November 2019, instead appointing a normalisation committee led by businessman Robert Hadad to run TTFA's affairs.
Wallace and his executive appealed their removal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. The team later indicated it did not believe CAS would give it a “fair hearing." Instead – on May 18 – they appealed to the local High Court.
Since then, the two bodies have been at loggerheads over which playing field their legal battle should kick off on. FIFA insists the matter can only and "must" be heard at CAS.
The most recent development was on August 12, when Justice Carol Gobin denied FIFA’s request to strike out the claim because its rules prevent member associations from starting proceedings against it in the local courts. FIFA has since appealed.
But in a letter to Hadad on Wednesday, FIFA reiterated the matter should be heard at CAS, adding that it is "very concerned regarding the decision of the claim and the argument used to dismiss FIFA's application.
"In this context, we draw your attention to article 58 of the FIFA statutes which expressly contains the prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts of law unless specifically provided for.
"FIFA takes such a principle with utmost seriousness and therefore considers that it is the responsibility of its member associations to ensure that this principle is implemented."
It said the ousted executive has until September 16 to withdraw its claim from the local High Court.
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Post by Admin on Aug 28, 2020 7:59:54 GMT
TTFA : We didn't block coaches from our officesNARISSA FRASER 10 HRS AGO newsday.co.tt/2020/08/27/ttfa-we-didnt-block-coaches-from-our-offices/TT Under-17 men's coach Angus Eve (fourth left) speaks with fellow coaches as they gathered at the Ato Boldon Stadium, on Tuesday, to deliver a document to the TT Football Association's secretariat regarding the non-payment of salaries. - Vidya Thurab THE TT Football Association (TTFA) normalisation committee is denying claims it blocked national coaches from entering its offices on Tuesday. It also said it can explain the reason for the delay in staff members receiving their salaries. A total of 21 national coaches met outside the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, on Tuesday morning to deliver a document to the TTFA secretariat. This letter addressed their non-payment of salaries since FIFA’s installation of the normalisation committee in mid-March. Coach Angus Eve has told Newsday the majority of coaches were prevented from entering. He said only a few, who arrived earlier, were allowed entry. When they approached the security booth, he said, the guard said he was given instructions “by the office” to keep the gate closed. But in a release on Thursday, the TTFA said this is untrue. It said, “The Sports Company of TT (SporTT) facilities, which include the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, where the TTFA’s head office is located, remain closed in keeping with the public health measures declared by the Ministry of Health to stem the spread of covid19. “As stated in an official SporTT correspondence, ‘The public is also reminded that two SporTT locations in Tacarigua and Couva are more heavily secured as they are being used as step-down facilities by the Ministry of Health. Consequently, restricted access is even more imperative at these locations.’” It said the association “has not deliberately” deferred payments of salaries to any staff member. “The TTFA is willing to engage any member of staff to explain the reason for non-payment. “It is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this situation. It is also important to note that all parties have the country’s football at heart and would like to see our nation’s ranking rise in world football. “However, this must be preceded by the establishment of a properly governed and functioning TTFA.” It said the normalisation committee has been “working assiduously” to find solutions to a “wide range of matters related to the organisation and its national teams. “Most importantly, addressing the TTFA’s perilous financial situation. The TTFA’s indebtedness, which has increased since the start of the year, continues to be of grave concern.” It thanked FIFA and Concacaf for “continued support,” adding that there is currently a rotational work system in place for staff - including a work from home policy - owing to the covid19 pandemic.
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Post by Admin on Aug 28, 2020 8:07:17 GMT
So if they were being barred entry at the gate due to Covid 19 concerns, why the hell they didn't say so at the gate??
VB
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Post by Admin on Aug 28, 2020 8:49:14 GMT
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Post by Admin on Sept 2, 2020 7:45:35 GMT
Hadad slams offensive Wallace's attacks on FIFA guardian.co.tt/sports/hadad-slams-offensive-wallaces-attacks-on-fifa-6.2.1196568.a6582247d8Keith Clement Chairman of the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC) Robert Hadad has slammed former T&T Football Association (TTFA) boss Williams Wallace for the offensive manner in which Wallace continues to address the world governing body in the ongoing dispute between the two parties. Hadad has also knocked Wallace for continuing to use TTFA and FIFA insignia’s on his correspondence, as he is no longer qualified to do so, and called on him to do the right thing to so the game can return to normalcy in this country. Hadad made the comments in response to an open letter, dated August 26, from Wallace to FIFA president Gianni Infantino which has attacked the normalisation process and the work of Hadad’s team thus far. In Wallace's letter to Infantino, headed Failure of Normalisation in Trinidad and Tobago, Wallace said: "My vice-presidents and I were elected to lead the TTFA in November 2019. For years before that FIFA had stood-by and watched as mismanagement and cronyism caused havoc for football in Trinidad and Tobago, provoking notable public failures, including the botched Home of Football project in Balmain, Couva. We were elected to bring transparency and financial probity. "Normalisation is a draconian and unfair act which seeks to undermine the independence of the TTFA and ride roughshod over the will of the electorate who voted for the United TTFA slate in November 2019." Noting that the two reasons given by FIFA for their intervention in T&T had nothing to do with his former executive, Wallace noted his team was still willing to work with FIFA to resolve the outstanding issues in the interest of T&T football Football. However, Wallace noted his executive should have been given the chance to resolve the issues as opposed to FIFA sending in a normalisation team and again called for mediation in the matter, which is currently before the local courts. "FIFA cannot continue to ignore our calls to mediate an agreement between the TTFA and FIFA and maintain any moral authority. FIFA must recognise and work with the duly elected executive of the TTFA. Likewise, TTFA must recognise, and does, the need for financial assistance and guidance from FIFA in resolving TTFA’s current financial malaise. If you will not talk and if no agreement is reached, the TTFA is left with no choice but to continue on the path FIFA has forced us down through the courts." However, in a response on Independence Day (August 31), Hadad told Wallace his letter to Infantino was a complete misrepresentation of the facts. “As stated in writing on numerous occasions by FIFA, you Mr Wallace, are not recognised as the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president. The TTFA Normalisation Committee which I chair has been appointed by FIFA and is the only legitimate body entrusted to manage/run the affairs of the TTFA as recognised by FIFA, Concacaf and FIFA’s 211 member associations," Hadad wrote. "Furthermore, you are not authorised to use the TTFA letterhead or any other marking for any communication or representation. Similar to all your correspondence and media interviews, your letter is an example of the campaign of misinformation and disinformation that you and a number of your colleagues from the removed TTFA Executive Committee have undertaken from the inception of not only the normalisation process, but as evidenced from the first day you were in office." Hadad told Wallace he had ignored the truth and calls from his membership to resolve the issue out of the court. “You have had every opportunity within the FIFA system to make a case and put forward your position, however, you have voluntarily chosen not to do so and even went so far as withdrawing the matter from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). You know very well that it is a requirement of FIFA, Concacaf and TTFA Statutes that such disputes be managed through CAS, and you know very well the potential consequences for those who ignore important FIFA rules and regulations." Hadad added: "The tone and content of your letter is offensive, not only to the Normalisation Committee but to the people of Trinidad and Tobago who are working extremely hard for the betterment of football in the country. In recent weeks, the players of our senior men’s national team, our membership at large and other stakeholders have spoken out to you and your cohorts to request that you do the right thing and put Trinidad and Tobago football first."
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Post by Admin on Sept 2, 2020 7:47:18 GMT
Wallace not fazed by Hadad’s comments
JOEL BAILEY 38 MINUTES AGO William Wallace. - William Wallace. - WILLIAM Wallace, the ousted president of the TTFA (TT Football Association), is not fazed by statements made towards him, in a letter issued on Monday by Robert Hadad, chairman of the TTFA normalisation committee. Wallace and his former executive (vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip) are currently challenging FIFA’s decision to remove them, in March, and install a normalisation committee. On August 13, Justice Carol Gobin, in the Port of Spain High Court, ruled that the matter involving Wallace and the United TTFA team, and FIFA, can be heard at the High Court and not the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Hadad, in his email to Wallace, referred to Wallace’s letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on August 26, in which Wallace wrote, “Normalisation is a draconian and unfair act which seeks to undermine the independence of the TTFA and ride roughshod over the will of the electorate who voted for the United TTFA slate (in the TTFA elections) in November.” Describing Wallace’s letter as “a complete misinterpretation of the facts”, Hadad wrote, “Wallace voluntarily chose not to make a case within the FIFA system and put forward his position. However, he withdrew the matter from CAS.” When contacted on Tuesday, Wallace said, “I saw the letter. I just went through it. I have not formed any opinion of it. I prefer to not even respond to that.” Asked if his focus is, instead, on the legal matter with FIFA, Wallace replied, “Yes. There is nothing there (with Hadad’s letter) for me to respond to.” Hadad, in his letter, claimed that the tone and the content of Wallace’s letter was offensive, not only to the normalisation committee but to the people of TT. The normalisation committee head mentioned that TT players, membership and stakeholders requested that Wallace do the right thing and put TT football first. Wallace, regarding “the tone and content” of the letter, noted, “That’s Mr Hadad’s opinion. He’s entitled to that.” About the request that he “do the right thing”, Wallace said, “The right thing is very subjective. What is the right thing? That’s a matter of perspective. That is right for some people and, for others, it’s not the right thing. We have some time on our hands and we’ll see how things progress.”
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Post by Admin on Sept 5, 2020 19:26:13 GMT
CFU president: We don’t wantTTFA to be suspended
JOEL BAILEY WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2020 newsday.co.tt/2020/09/02/cfu-president-we-dont-wantttfa-to-be-suspended/RANDY Harris, president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), says the regional governing body does not want the TT Football Association (TTFA) to be suspended by FIFA if it does not end its High Court matter against FIFA by September 16. Harris was speaking in an interview on I95.5 FM on Tuesday. On Monday, Osmond Downer, former FIFA referee and one of the framers of the TTFA constitution, expressed his doubts that FIFA can expel or suspend the TTFA at its annual ordinary congress on September 18. Downer, in a media release on Monday, wrote, “I have been informed (by Caribbean colleagues who will be attending the congress) that the mandatory agenda and accompanying documents sent to them have all made no mention whatsoever of any motion to suspend or expel the TTFA. “The motion to suspend or expel a member can be put before the annual congress only by the council of FIFA – by no other body or person,” Downer added. “I have made inquiries about the deliberations of the last FIFA council meeting of about three weeks ago, and I have been reliably informed that the only matter that came up concerning the TTFA was the ratification of the Bureau’s decision to install the normalisation committee. “No decision was taken to recommend the expulsion or suspension of the TTFA to the congress.” According to Harris, “It is my belief that FIFA has offered the TTFA the opportunity to withdraw the matter of the court decision on (September 16), which gives them two days before the congress is held. “I believe that FIFA is of the opinion that the United TTFA would withdraw the matter,” Harris continued. “In the Caribbean, (TT) is one of our brighter lights and we certainly would not like to have anything happen to TT’s football.” Concerning Downer’s view that FIFA would not have enough time, Harris said, “I know FIFA usually brings matters to the congress that they deem as an emergency. The executive committee of FIFA have the authority to bring matters to the congress. “I would like the matter to be dealt with on the 18th of September and not to drag on, because the longer it goes, the longer any sanctions can be upheld. We have the (World Cup) qualifications coming up, the Gold Cup coming up and we don’t want that TT (to be) sanctioned during any of these tournaments. We want them to be included in our schedules and our competitions.” Harris also responded to Downer’s claim that he spoke to persons in the Caribbean who seem unaware that TT can be sanctioned in the congress meeting. “We, in the Caribbean, are hoping that the United TTFA would really do what it is in the best interest of football in the Caribbean. We are not waiting on any sanction or any suspension. We are hoping that the matter is dealt with before the deadline of September 16.”
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