IN a shocking turn of events, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) three-member disciplinary committee ruled that the Wayne Forde-led executive committee’s decision to move the STAG Elite League from eight teams was ultra vires their powers and unconstitutional.

Attorneys Sanjeev Datadin (Chairman) and Natasha Vieira, along with Dr. Clement McEwan make up the GFF’s Disciplinary Committee.

National champions Slingerz FC along with their usual rivals Alpha United, as well as the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and Pele football club, refused to participate in the second edition of the STAG Elite League, calling it (the league) illegitimate since they felt that the GFF unconstitutionally added two teams (Topp XX and Victoria Kings).

A call was made by the aforementioned clubs for arbitration, stating that instead of a back and forth between them and the GFF, good sense should have prevailed; especially for Slingerz FC and Alpha United, who were named as the clubs representing Guyana at the CFU Club championship which was a qualifier for the CONCACAF Champions League.

But the GFF refused, and resorted to sanctioning the two clubs (Slingerz and Alpha United) and would further write to CONCACAF, detailing that the they (the Clubs) were not in ‘good standing’ with the Federation; a needed requirement for participation at the CFU Club Championship.

The Disciplinary Committee noted that “it follows therefore that for the Executive Committee to sanction the Complainants for non-participation could not be a code or rule violation. Their objection was on principle; a principle which we have found to be with legal foundation.
The Executive Committee was not entitled to punish an Elite member for non-participation in a Tournament which they had exceeded their legal authority to convene.”

“The Executive Committee was not entitled punish an Elite Member for non-participation in a Tournament which they had exceeded their legal authority to convene” the Disciplinary Committee said in their letter to the GFF and abovementioned clubs.

It was also ruled that the GFF Constitution can only be amended by Congress and the Executive Committee had no authority to unilaterally amend the Constitution in any manner whatsoever.

The GFF will hold its congress next month, where several matters will be brought to the floor by the members, and the Elite League fiasco would be high on the agenda.