[UPDATED] Ousted TTFA executive awaits final whistle in FIFA dispute

OUSTED TT Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as Justice Carol Gobin has denied FIFA’s request to have the ongoing dispute remitted back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The case can now proceed locally.

It has been approximately five months of an ongoing dispute between the TTFA and the world-governing body of football.

It began on March 17 when FIFA removed Wallace and his executive (deputies Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick and Joseph Sam Phillip) who were elected in November 2019. FIFA said the decision was made because of the association’s financial woes and “massive debt.”

The TTFA currently has a debt of approximately $50 million .

The removal of the TTFA executive was done in accordance with article 8:2 of FIFA’s statutes which states, “Executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the council in consultation with the relevant confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specific period of time.”

But in April, the ousted executive made an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, saying the decision was a breach of the TTFA’s constitution.

The team later indicated it did not believe CAS would give a “fair hearing” as they encountered runarounds during the process. Instead – on May 18 – they appealed to the local High Court.

But the drama only continued as FIFA – in June – filed an injunction in the TT High Court to stop it from hearing any matter relating the ongoing dispute. It insisted that CAS was the only acceptable forum.

On Thursday, Gobin ruled: “The application for the stay of proceedings is refused…The defendant is ordered to pay the claimants costs to be assessed by this court in default of agreement.”

She said FIFA has 21 days to file a defence.

Speaking with Newsday on Thursday afternoon, a hopeful Wallace said, “This is definitely significant progress because it has given us a chance to be heard which is all we wanted in the first place – to be heard.”

Asked if he believes FIFA would be able to come up with an effective defence, he said, “I don’t have a clue (what they would try). I don’t see any possibility of a defence. From what I said, I think we have a very good case.”

He also commended his attorneys for their hard work.

TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy shared similar sentiments, saying regardless of it being a small victory, it is still worth celebrating.

“It is a good day. It is the first half of the match – and there is a second half – because the court has said we can hear the case here but now we have to win the case. And beyond that, it is a massive statement in the sense of our national sovereignty and democracy.

“The depiction that FIFA could just do what it wants and disrespect local courts, local law, the constitution of local associations – the court has said it cannot do this and that the rule of law must be upheld and it stands in the defence of the TTFA in that regard.”

He said he believes this case has the potential to become a landmark case in not only local but international sports law.

“There’s no doubt about that. I’ve always said it, I’ve taken some heat and some blows for saying that but it is a fact...It is a huge case.

“Right now, FIFA could just do what it wants with the normalisation committee and if they don’t like the shape of your head, they could remove you. But the problem is that nobody has ever fought FIFA. (In some people’s minds) we were not supposed to fight, we were supposed to pick up, say we can’t fight FIFA and walk away.”

Newsday tried to contact Hadad but all calls and messages went unanswered.

This story was originally published with the title "Wallace hopeful as judge rules case against FIFA can proceed locally" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

OUSTED TT Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as Justice Carol Gobin has denied FIFA’s request to have the ongoing dispute remitted back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The case can now proceed locally.

Wallace and his executive challenged FIFA’s decision on March 17 to remove the TTFA executive and implement a normalisation committee.

On May 18, the former TTFA executive decided to take the matter to the TT High Court, instead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), since they felt they would not get a fair hearing at the Switzerland-based CAS.

FIFA then challenged this move.

But on Thursay, Gobin ruled: “The application for the stay of proceedings is refused…The defendant is ordered to pay the claimants costs to be assessed by this court in default of agreement.”

FIFA has 21 days to file a defence.

Speaking with Newsday, Wallace said, “This is definitely significant progress because it has given us a chance to be heard which is all we wanted in the first place – to be heard.”

Asked if he believes FIFA would be able to come up with an effective defence, he said, “I don’t have a clue (what they would try). I don’t see any possibility of a defence. From what I said, I think we have a very good case.”

He commended his attorneys Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul for their hard work.