Wallace to withdraw CAS appeal

FILE PHOTO: Outgoing TTFA president William Wallace  -
FILE PHOTO: Outgoing TTFA president William Wallace -

Embattled outgoing TT Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace said instructions have been given to his attorneys to withdraw the appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against FIFA’s decision to suspend the TTFA.

“Instructions have already been given to pull the matter from CAS…that is the only matter,” he told Newsday on Sunday, after the majority of TTFA members voted earlier to end all legal challenges against the world governing body.

The TTFA was banned by FIFA on September 24 after Wallace and his executive decided to challenge their removal from office by FIFA in the High Court. FIFA only recognises CAS to arbitrate disputes among Members Associations.

Wallace's executive was removed after just four months at the helm. A normalisation committee was installed by FIFA to run the TTFA's affairs.

FIFA said, “The suspension was prompted by the former leadership of the TTFA lodging a claim before (the TT High Court) in order to contest the decision of the FIFA Council to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA.

“This suspension will only be lifted when the TTFA fully complies with its obligations as a member of FIFA, including recognising the legitimacy of the appointed normalisation committee and bringing its own statutes into line with the FIFA Statutes.”

TTFA’s suspension must be lifted by December 18 to compete in upcoming FIFA competitions.

On Sunday, at the conclusion of an extraordinary general meeting, 33 members were in favour of writing FIFA to inform the world football body that they accept the normalisation committee, while two members decided not to vote.

Santa Rosa FC and a Tobago Football Association representative did not vote.

It was the second defeat in three days for Wallace after the Court of Appeal overturned Justice Carol Gobin's High Court decision which stated FIFA acted illegally in removing Wallace's executive.

Wallace told Newsday he expected Sunday's outcome.

“There (are) no surprises. Basically this is what the membership has been saying,” he said.

Asked if he is officially resigning, Wallace added, “The point about resignation may be very moot simply because once the normalisation committee is recognised and accepted, it means that there will be no need for a resignation. Once that occurs there will be no need to resign from anything because the normalisation committee would automatically replace the officer.”

Wallace said he would abide by the wishes of the TTFA membership and not take his appeal against his removal to the Privy Council.

“We have no intention of going anywhere. As I said, whatever the membership decide today would have been it and they are standing by that.”

Wallace said he was speaking on behalf of his former vice-presidents Clynt Taylor and Sam Phillip.

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