THANKS to the intervention of the sports world governing body FIFA and its affiliate CONCACAF, the impasse between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and its member association, the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) has finally come to an

end.
The team, headed by CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb, wrapped up their visit to Guyana yesterday where they have resolved a matter that had reached the High Court as the GFA fought its parent body (GFF) to be given full membership rights and the right to vote.
“In the spirit of reconciliation and for the progress of football in Guyana, we have gathered to assist in the process of reaching a blinding agreement without full supervision of its roadmap to ensure fulfilment of all requirements,” said FIFA’s Director of Members Association and Development Thierry Regeness who was also part of the visiting contingent.
He added that they are “hopeful to see the unified football fraternity in Guyana and we should move forward past matters and build a future development growth of the game in the country”
Under the terms of the agreement, the following points have been accorded by the GFF and GFA, where each party respectively undertakes the following responsibilities:
GFA agrees to permanently withdraw all legal actions lodged before the ordinary courts of Guyana against the GFF by January 14, 2013.
GFF agrees to immediately reinstate all membership rights to the GFA upon the withdrawal of all aforementioned legal actions
Upon the signing of this agreement, the GFA agrees to offer to reinstate all membership rights to Alpha United, Western Tigers and Pele FC. The aforementioned clubs will be granted until January 16, 2013 to accept reinstatement and to make nominations for the upcoming GFA executive elections.
GFA agrees to hold Electoral Congress on January 19, 2013 for the election of its Executive Committee and that such Congress will be monitored by the GFF.
GFF agrees to hold its Annual Ordinary Congress by April 15, 2013, at which elections for its Executive Committee will be held.
GFF shall take all necessary steps to create as soon as possible but no later than January 13, 2013, an Electoral Commission comprised of three independent persons to oversee and supervise its electoral process in accordance with the principles of the FIFA Standard Electoral Code. Such nomination will be confirmed by FIFA.
GFA agrees to reimburse to the GFF all reasonable expenses associated to the May 2011 Annual Ordinary Congress, upon presentation of the respective invoices. In case of dispute in relation to the relevance of a presented invoice, the matter will be submitted to FIFA and CONCACAF for a decision.
GFF agrees that it will offset all amounts owed to the GFA from the aforementioned expenses linked to the May 2011 Annual Ordinary Congress.
GFF and GFA acknowledged that recourse to ordinary courts is prohibited under the provisions of FIFA, CONCACAF and GFF Statues and expressly guarantee not to seek such recourse to ordinary courts to settle their disputes in the future. GFF and the GFA are aware of the potential sanctions that could be imposed by FIFA and CONCACAF in case of breach of the aforementioned provisions.
Present at yesterday’s press conference, held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston Georgetown, GFA President Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Major Vernon Burnett, expressed profound gratitude to the visiting team from FIFA and CONCACAF for bringing a resolution to normalcy to football in Guyana.
He added that with his signature affixed to the relevant documents drafted under the agreement(s) reached by the mediation, it means that the GFA is willing and ready to comply for the good of the game.
Acting president of the GFF Franklin Wilson said that he is happy that FIFA could not only come to Guyana to bring an end to an ongoing dispute, but to further help charter a course for development of football in the country.
Webb, the boss of CONCACAF said that from engaging with the relevant stakeholders for the sport, he summed up that there’s a “great degree of distrust” as regards Football and its administration and he can only hope that with a new way being chartered, the image of the game would change.
“The goal of the visit has been to create dialogue within the football community, find cooperation and have a reinvigoration of the sport in Guyana.
“We have met with all parties involved to give them the opportunity to engage and participate in the resolution of these matters,” Webb said.
He added, “We are very pleased with the commitment we have seen throughout our meetings to promote the sport and ultimately reach a final agreement. We trust we still set a clear roadmap to restore the integrity of the game among all the GFF Member Associations.”