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Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association (TTFRA) vice-president Osmond Downer has suggested that David John-Williams might have abused the TTFA’s constitution by the manner in which the local football body selected Capelli Sport as its new kit sponsor.
After two weeks of speculation from Soca Warriors fans and a press conference called by board members Keith Look Loy, Sharon Joseph-Warrick, Raeshawn Mars, Joseph Taylor and Colin Partap which criticised the lack of transparency by the football president, the TTFA issued a statement today about the Men’s National Senior Team’s new kit:
The two teams played to a 0-0 draw.
(Copyright TTFA Media)
“Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) named Capelli Sport, the exclusive uniform supplier partner for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2019.
“The TTFA extended an invitation for kit partnership for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2019, at the end of the sponsorship agreement for the previous term. Four proposals were received by the TTFA, based on which Capelli Sport was selected by the Emergency Committee of the TTFA.
“The TTFA welcomes the Capelli Sport partnership as exclusive uniform supplier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2019.”
The TTFA emergency committee consists of: John-Williams (president), Ewing Davis (vice-president), Selby Browne (VFFOTT), Richard Quan Chan (SFA), Anthony Moore (TFA) and Bandele Kamau (EFA).
[dfp-ad]Article 42.1 of the TTFA constitution states that ‘the Emergency Committee shall deal with all matters requiring immediate settlement between two meetings of the Board of Directors’. Decisions by the Emergency Committee, according to article 42.4, must be ratified by the Board at its subsequent meeting.
But since John-Williams knew three years ago when the TTFA’s Joma deal was due to expire, how could a replacement kit sponsor be deemed an emergency?
Downer, who was one of the framers of the new TTFA constitution which was adopted in July 2015, said John-Williams should not have conducted a tendering process without involving his Board of Directors.
“They are abusing this Emergency Committee [option],” said Downer, who is a former FIFA referee and ex-principal of St Augustine Senior Secondary. “Emergency means an unexpected, sudden situation—this is the dictionary’s definition. Deciding on kit proposals cannot be an unexpected, sudden situation.
“That is not what the Emergency Committee was designed for within the constitution.”
John-Williams has not revealed the length of the TTFA’s new deal with Capelli Sport, much less the terms and benefits due to the local football body.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
I could clearly remember when Lasana L. was up Jack Warner a…… like a tight drawers for misconduct at the FIFA..Does he have any voice about the attitude and actions of TTFA boss Williams..some journalist..
The strangest thing about your comment is that you even make it on a story that is critical of the current TTFA president. Thanks for your feedback all the same.
Bandit and a bamcee!