TTFA, TTSL in All-Star showdown

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) have engaged in a war of words regarding the TTSL’s desire to stage an All-Star match on October 15, involving a Super League XI and a ‘Rest of the World’ team – including World Cup winners Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Cafu (Brazil) and Luca Toni (Italy).

On Monday, the TTFA issued a media release, which stated that they do not have the authority to sanction the All-Star game.

“The (TTFA) wishes to further confirm that it has, in fact, made a request to FIFA to have the match sanctioned and is currently awaiting their approval,” said the TTFA in their media release.

The local governing body for football continued, “The (TTFA) will also like to place on record that it was only on the 29th of August it received from the TTSL information requested since early August by the FA to support the TTSL’s application to send to FIFA.

“The TTFA will in no way attempt to stall an event of this magnitude which is intended to aid the promotion of the sport in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.”

The TTFA also quoted, from its constitution, Article 78 – which states that the Authority for organising international matches and competitions between representative teams and between leagues, club teams and/or scratch teams lies solely with FIFA, the Confederation(s) and/or the Association(s) concerned; and Article 79 – “TTFA, its members, players, officials and match and players’ agents shall not play matches or make sporting contact with Associations that are not members of FIFA or with provisional members of a Confederation without the approval of FIFA.”

However, TTSL’s president Keith Look Loy issued a media release yesterday morning, refuting claims that the TTFA do not have the final authority to sanction the match.

“Regarding Article 78 above, TTSL is of the view that it is patently clear that the language of the statute — “… and/OR the Association…”— enables TTFA to sanction, if it so wishes, the event for which TTSL has requested permission to host,” said Look Loy.

“Regarding Article 79 above, TTSL does not understand why TTFA is resorting to this statute. The event in question is being promoted by Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL), which is a recognised entity in Caribbean football.”

Look Loy pointed out that, on June 13, the TTSL requested permission to stage the game on September 16.

“After several requests by TTSL for an update, on 9 August, TTFA requested a list of the foreign players to participate in the proposed event, which list was provided by TTSL on 15 August,” he wrote.

“On 15 August, TTSL also advised TTFA of a change of date from 16 September to 15 October — which CFTL advised TTSL was necessitated by the delay in the grant of permission by TTFA and the consequent need for CFTL to renegotiate the availability of certain foreign players, all of which affected the marketing of the event.

“Since 15 August, TTFA has issued fixtures for the 2017 FA Cup, which include matches scheduled for 15 October, the very date requested by TTSL for its proposed international event.”

Look Loy stated, “(The) TTSL is of the firm view that TTFA has immediate and constitutional authority to sanction the proposed event.

“Further, the continuing delay by TTFA in sanctioning the event, and the Association’s decision to schedule a conflicting event on that date, are a threat to an international event proposed by TTSL for the benefit of local players, clubs and football.”