‘I’m saddened and disappointed!’ TTFA vice-president resigns, points to late withdrawal from Fifa case


“[…] Within recent times it has become clear to me, that we are also fighting against those that we represent: the associations, the clubs, the teams, supporters and, sadly, the players.

“[…] How and why these papers were filed after the 3pm deadline is beyond me, and I am saddened and disappointed at the turn of events…”

The following is a letter of resignation from Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) vice-president Susan Joseph-Warrick, in the wake of Fifa’s suspension of the TTFA:

Photo: TTFA second vice-president Susan Joseph-Warrick.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/TTFA Media)

Dear Gentlemen,

I wish to advise of my resignation from the United TTFA, Trinidad and Tobago Women’s League Football (TT WoLF) and my elected post of second vice-president of the TTFA.

Today I look back to almost two years ago, when I became a TTFA Board member and decided to fight for accountability, honesty and good governance; to fight for our young women who were always a footnote, to fight for the development of football.

That was against the previous administration that had sunk our football into depths of despair. We won that fight.

Six months ago, a new bigger battle emerged. This time against Fifa—the rulers of world football. This was a fight for principle and justice, and I felt we were well supported in our actions by the football lovers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Within recent times it has become clear to me, that we are also fighting against those that we represent: the associations, the clubs, the teams, supporters and, sadly, the players.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago players congratulate goalkeeper K’lil Keshwar after their penalty shoot-out win over Puerto Rico in the Concacaf U-20 Championship Round of 16 affair in the Dominican Republic on 1 March 2020.
(Copyright MexSport/Concacaf)

In my heart, I felt hurt by the actions of Fifa. There was so much to do, but so little time given. We were making huge strides, and yes we made some mistakes.

I believe that the end must justify the means and that our present course of actions against Fifa would not redound to the benefit of Trinidad and Tobago and to the dreams and aspirations of our present and future generations of footballers.

Having consulted with our membership, we took the decision to give up our principled struggle for the future of Trinidad and Tobago Football and moved for the withdrawal of court proceedings against Fifa.

How and why these papers were filed after the 3pm deadline is beyond me, and I am saddened and disappointed at the turn of events.

Hopefully, this suspension will be short lived as the membership, executive and normalisation committee do what is beneficial for our future generations of players, clubs, coach and administrators.

As for me, I am done.

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7 comments

  1. Zigzag, stop-start doesn’t inspire confidence, does it?

    Even impartial observers can be forgiven for thinking you don’t know what you’re doing.

  2. FIFA and its President has an axe to grind and much of that grinding is being done on behalf of the president’s campaigner in chief and former TTFA jefe JDW. This administration has made it much easier for them to carry out their dastardly act. The lady is very correct in her assessment of the current situation. It is one in which there are going to be very few winners.

    • “FIFA and its President has an axe to grind and much of that grinding is being done on behalf of the president’s campaigner in chief and former TTFA jefe JDW”.

      Seriously! Seems like a far fetched conspiracy theory to me. Makes me wonder how much influence DJW really has in the grand scheme of world football and by further extension, Trinidad & Tobago.

      “This administration has made it much easier for them to carry out their dastardly act.”

      What dastardly act?

      We need to wake up and smell the coffee.

      • It’s obvious you haven’t been following this from the inception (way before their was the appointment of a normalisation committee I mean). A little bit of reading, comprehension and analysis will help. Also read the Mark Basant expose that will be useful.

        • Thank you for your response.

          My dear Sir, it is obvious that many of us are allowing the excessive diet of media stories and conspiracy theories to make us lose focus and become emotional over the situation.

          FIFA’s “dastardly act” by way of appointing a Normalization Committee is not without proper basis. As far back as the 70’s the TFA has mismanaged the situation, financial and otherwise. The Mark Basant expose serves to further justify FIFA’s intervention.

          The objective mind will most certainly agree that this “dastardly act” to which you refer has been ‘loooong’ overdue. Perhaps you differ in that regard and have been satisfied with the manner in which TT’s football has been managed/administered all along.

          Whether FIFA and its president have an axe to grind on behalf of DJW is simply a distraction in the grand scheme of things.

          Cheers!

          • Don’t you think (not in the tiniest bit) that it now begs the question why it has become such an imperative to intervene at this particular time. I would imagine even from what you are alluding, far greater or attrocities on a similar scales as may’ve occurred under this administration (to be determined) were committed in the past? If so, the question now becomes even more pertinent, why now. Is intervening now an attempt to distract or to prempt more damaging information from coming to the fore. This is simply an attempt to apply some logic alo
            and an enquiring mind at work. My apologies. However this shakes out, one thing you can be sure of, it will not be to the benefit of T&T.

            • The “dastardly act” and the timing of such are 2 different and separate issues.

              In my view, the timing of the act is merely academic at this stage and makes for healthy discussion and conspiracy theories only. I therefore agree with you that while “it now begs the question why it has become such an imperative to intervene at this particular time” it does not take away the justification of the intervention. As we all have speculated, there is ‘more in the mortar than the pestle’ but that’s an entirely different issue altogether.

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