… Matthias happy for meeting

FÉDÉRATION Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Head of Member Associations Premo Cavaro and Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal arrived in Guyana yesterday in an attempt to bring the ongoing dispute between two fractions of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and its Congress to an end and return the football to normalcy.After two failed attempts to hold its Extraordinary Congress, many are of the opinion that it is time for FIFA to step in and appoint a Normalisation Committee to replace the Christopher Matthias-led GFF administration.
Cavaro is seen like a ‘grim reaper’ since in most cases like Guyana’s his involvement puts an almost certainty of an interim committee being enforced as FIFA irons out the creases in their member association.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport via telephone, Matthias confirmed the arrival of the FIFA officials, calling it a breath of fresh air and exactly what Guyana football needs at present.
“They will be meeting with me first,” Matthias said, while stating that though he can’t say much on what happens after this meeting, it is certain that the team will be thorough in their attempt to rid Guyana’s football of the people involved in bringing the game into dispute.
Selective affiliates of the GFF namely, Georgetown Football Association, East Bank Football Association, East Demerara Football Association, West Demerara Football Association, National Association of Women’s Football, Guyana Football Referees Council and Guyana Football Coaches Association, forming two-thirds of the General Congress, last May 31, had passed a ‘No Confidence’ vote against Matthias.
However, they would see the decision overturned by FIFA who, through their Secretary-General Jerome Valcke said the decision was “not in accordance to the GFF statutes” and that all decisions taken at the meeting are “invalid”.
“Considering the ongoing problems facing football in Guyana, FIFA and CONCACAF strongly recommend that the GFF convene as soon as possible an Extraordinary Congress to deal with the pending and agreed matters from the April 26 GFF Congress,” Valcke had stated.
In handing out a decision taken by FIFA, Valcke noted in his communiqué to Matthias that was dated June 4, 2014, “We further inform you that this Extraordinary Congress must be held before August 10, 2014 to void referral to the responsible FIFA body for possible sanction,”
But upon acting on the directives given by FIFA and holding its Extraordinary Congress, again, another ‘Walkout’ was staged by the aforementioned affiliates.
Leal, along with FIFA’s representative and president of the Bahamas Football Federation Anthone Sealey and CONCACAF’s Legal Adviser Bruce Blake, was present at the ‘Walkout’ as such, giving FIFA a firsthand experience at the lawlessness that persists in the country’s football, hence the arrival of the two officials yesterday.

(By Rawle Toney)