Hadad waits on FIFA

NORMALISATION committee chairman Robert Hadad has sent the TT Football Association (TTFA) membership letter, which states their willingness to accept the normalisation committee, to FIFA.

On Sunday, Richard Ferguson on behalf of the TTFA membership, sent the letter to Hadad.

On Monday, in a Whatsapp message to Newsday, Hadad said he forwarded the letter to FIFA. “Yes I have forwarded the request and waiting on a reply.”

On Monday, Hadad also responded to the TTFA membership letter, saying, “The normalisation committee will discuss these matters with FIFA and Concacaf.”

On Sunday, at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), the majority of the TTFA membership voted to accept the normalisation committee to run local football. In doing so, they hope to remove William Wallace and vice presidents Clynt Taylor and Sam Phillip (United TTFA) from office.

Since March, Wallace and his team have been in a battle against FIFA concerning the world football body’s decision to replace the United TTFA and appoint the normalisation committee.

At the EGM, a total of 33 members were in favour of accepting the normalisation committee, while two members decided not to vote.

Santa Rosa FC and a Tobago Football Association representative did not vote. Three delegates did not respond when called upon. The EGM was chaired by Ferguson.

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.

Ferguson, in the letter to Hadad, said the way forward is “for the TTFA to fully comply with its obligation as a member of FIFA, recognising the legitimacy of the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee, and bringing its own statutes in line with the FIFA statutes.”

The TTFA membership letter also gave their commitment “to fully cooperate with the normalisation committee in the fulfilment of its mandate as stated in FIFA’s letter of March 17, 2020” and “be it further resolved that all court matters existing between the TTFA and FIFA shall be immediately brought to a stop.”

The motion was tabled by Osmond Downer, one of the delegates of the TT Football Referees Association, and was seconded by Keith Jeffrey of Central FC.

The TTFA members also said they regret what transpired over the past year.

“Let me take this opportunity to humbly apologize to you, the other members of the normalisation committee, FIFA, Concacaf and CFU (Caribbean Football Union) for any embarrassment and inconvenience caused by TTFA representatives over the last year. I also hope that a strong positive relationship can be re-established as we move forward for the betterment of football in TT.”

After the EGM, Wallace told Newsday he expected the outcome of the meeting.

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

Wallace said it will not be necessary for him to officially resign.

“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.”