… according to the Constitution of the GFF, I’m still the president, says Matthias
EMBATTLED President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias at a Press Conference yesterday called the recent passing of a No Confidence vote against him as illicit, citing the gathering as unconstitutional and as such, he’s still at the helm of the sport locally.
On Saturday, May 31, representatives from the Georgetown Football Association, West Demerara Football Association, East Coast Football Association, East Bank Football Association, National Association of Women’s Football, Guyana Football Referees Council and Guyana Football Coaches Association, forming two-thirds of the General Congress, unanimously voted that they wish to not have Matthias as President of the GFF after only having served just 13 months in office.
“According to the constitution which governs all of us in football in Guyana, I’m still the president of the GFF,” Matthias said.
Matthias was a no-show at Saturday’s meeting, claiming that he was not informed about the event which was held at Water Chris, though documents obtained by Chronicle Sport showed otherwise.
Article 36:6 of the GFF Constitution gives power to the GFF’s vice-president as Chairman of the Congress in the absence of the president.
In a letter dated May 19, Matthias was informed by members of Congress that the meeting which was halted on April 26, would reconvene on May 31.
After Saturday’s meeting, it was said that vice-president Ivan Persaud would run the affairs of the GFF and an Interim committee to govern the day-to-day affairs of the game until members of Congress meet within 60 days to fill the vacated executive committee positions.
Matthias was written too in a letter signed by Persaud dated June 1, where he (Matthias) was informed of the outcome of the reconvened congress.
“The Congress successfully moved a no-confidence motion against you (Matthias) as the GFF President and Executive Committee member Mr Keith O’Jeer.
The delegates offered various comments and reasons in support of this motion, before unanimously voted for you and Executive Member removal from office with immediate effect under Article 35 of the GFF Constitution”
Please be advised that you are required to demit office immediately and to hand over all assets belonging to the Federation, including all keys and documents,” the letter which was signed by Persaud noted to Matthias.
But it was business as usual at the GFF Georgetown office yesterday, where Matthias seemed happy and at home, going about his daily routine uninterrupted with no sign of the Members of Congress who asked him to leave in sight.
“Like I said I will vacate office and move when FIFA/CONCACAF tells me to,” Matthias told Chronicle Sport yesterday.
The beleaguered Matthias continued to challenge the legitimacy of Saturday’s meeting, calling it and its outcome ludicrous.
So daring is Matthias that he had openly challenged his obvious disgruntled members of Congress, to a debate which he wanted to have on live television and if he was found guilty of any wrongdoing, he would calmly walk away from football.
A 48-hour ultimatum was given, but the Members of Congress refused, claiming that they rather have the public confrontation done in the print media and issued an epistle, outlining several factors and issues to oust the GFF president.
Lying that he attended a FIFA Meeting in Zurich in August 2013 along with being mendacious to Congress that Guyana would not have been fined US$22 500 for their no-show at the CONCACAF Zone/Beach Football World Cup qualifier were among some of the lengthy key points of the peeved members’ argument for calling a vote of No-Confidence against Matthias.
By Rawle Toney()
