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“The elected officers of TTFA advises the public that we will oppose Fifa’s injustice at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“[…] The expense of this legal challenge is a tremendous obstacle but we are determined to fight for what is right, to defend democracy and the sovereign right of our people to determine our own affairs.”
The following is a press statement by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace, which signals the intention of its elected officers to resist a Fifa normalisation committee through the Court of Arbitration for Sport:
Wallace was elected TTFA president on 24 November 2019.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
The legitimately elected officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, democratically elected by the electorate in the presence of both Fifa and Concacaf officials on 24 November 2019, wish to assure the people of our beloved country of our continuing rejection of Fifa’s unwarranted and illegal intervention into football in Trinidad and Tobago.
Fifa’s injustice is made all the more transparent by the fact that it failed, consistently, to intervene against the John-Williams administration that operated and generated massive debt for four years—with Fifa’s knowledge and supervision through their annual audit.
It is ironic that after we assumed office and generated a report which pointed out the absence of any financial internal structures, that the report was sent back verbatim as one of the two reasons given for Fifa’s action.
Moreover, based on recent information we are aware that Fifa’s intervention was premeditated and the implementation of this action commenced since we won the elections.
The elected officers of TTFA advises the public that we will oppose Fifa’s injustice at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. We need to be heard and that right is enshrined in the Fifa statutes that govern all Member Associations.
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable; every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle.
Infantino was the UEFA general secretary at the time and campaigning for John-Williams’ support at the Fifa election.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
The expense of this legal challenge is a tremendous obstacle but we are determined to fight for what is right, to defend democracy and the sovereign right of our people to determine our own affairs.
To that end, we have created a ‘go fund me’ campaign and are calling on all patriots to contribute to our national cause as generously as they can. Please visit (https://www.gofundme.com/f/TTFA-Fights)
Regards
William Wallace
Elected President
TTFA
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I am so proud of Wallace and his team of courageous leaders. Shepards which care about the sheep and doesn’t abandon them when the wolves approach. These are men of renown right before our eyes. This is so rare in our time that I am emboldened in hope for our nation.
You have my prayers and support. You have already succeeded on one level. Justice ALWAYS wins even when it appears not to.
Lasana ….whilst I indeed emphatise with the executive, and find some validity in their assertions of high handedness, there have been missteps. We are now saddled with a larger coaching pool with an adminstration that has no money. We’ve been told of deals that never materialized; instead of pushing through a clearance for the hostel it has been closed, and it seems vindictively; the confidence that they had that 55 percentage mandate has been eroded.
Then there is this legal challenge to FIFA….the executive is making a decision that would affect Trinidad and Tobago football. That should be a decision decided by a mandate of the Board and National Assembly….the executive should not be acting to preserve their jobs which is what this seems like. A normalization committee with Competent Trinidadians isn’t an imposition, the ship was floundering and that blotched sponsorship deal simply exacerbated and exposed the level of niaveity and incompetence in financial matters where the Crux of the issue is.
I call for the national assembly re the Board to make a decision and not let the executive carry us down the road to perdition with them. The probable repercussions are too much to gamble.Think of the country first, every national and local footballer, then yourselves.
STOP THE LEGAL ACTION NOW….#executiveitsnotyourdecision
Suppose it might be too late but someone needs to advise the disposed board that regardless of the action they take, they need to tone down the harsh criticism of the FIFA and just think of it as a difference of opinion. No need to say things that would be difficult for anyone to forget when the relationship gets better. Fact is some of the new board’s first decisions were to increase the debt rather than decrease it. Think the decision of the FIFA was very premature and makes one wonder why so soon? But the behavior of the Executive is not encouraging neither..they seem a little too cocky and forget that their role is to move forward and not back. They knew the debts before they got into office so if they were not willing to accept them they should not have seek office. Their function is not to pass judgement on the previous administration but to move on. They cannot want to make plans for FIFA money and expect to disrespect the same FIFA at the same time. To suggest that under Jack Warner’s time that could not have happened is utter non-sense. The Caribbean destroyed their own power in Concacaf through the leadership of Mr. Warner, Mr Austin and Mr. Webb. We forced the other countries to come up with a method to limit our power. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that Mr. Warner did a lot for the countries of the Caribbean even though he might be judged mostly by what he did for himself. But all three of them were unceremoniously removed from office. But Mr. Veron is a shady character at best so TTFA better have it together if they are going to challenge him.