… Federation puts COVID-19 Task Force on notice

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday said they are investigating reports of an unsanctioned tournament in the East Coast Demerara region and reminded the football community that no authorisation has been granted by the National COVID-19 Task Force or the Federation for any further resumption of football activities.
The tournament in question, though not named by the GFF, is an inter-village competition being played in Buxton, which kicked off last Sunday.
The Wayne Forde-led Federation is urging all affiliated players, match officials and coaches to abide by their constitutional regulations at all times in the interests of the entire football community. “Any breach of GFF regulations, including participation in unsanctioned events, will be investigated and could result in suspension. Any suspected breach of national COVID-19 rules will be reported to the authorities,” GFF warned.

GFF said regulations, under its constitution, are in place to protect the interests and welfare of players, match officials and coaches, and to safeguard the future development, good governance and orderly organisation of football. Under FIFA’s global structure of football governance and its constitution, GFF controls football in all its forms in Guyana.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Forde stressed the need “for all of our friends in football to abide by the GFF constitution and the national COVID-19 rules at this time of global crisis.
According to the GFF president, “We are planning for the safe and responsible resumption of football in the coming months, in partnership with the National COVID-19 Task Force. No football competitions should take place until it is safe to do so and until they have been approved by GFF and the Task Force.”

“Unauthorised competitions at this crucial stage in the pandemic not only risk the health of the people taking part, but also the wellbeing of their loved ones and wider society,” Forde said.
GFF reminded that special dispensation was granted by the country’s COVID-19 Task Force for a spectator-less, limited GFF tournament in December/January as part of the Federation’s “return to play” plans, which paved the way for the responsible return of football in accordance with national protocols. The Task Force has also granted permission for Golden Jaguars to begin training for FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March. Only last week, National midfield player, Clive Nobrega, was sentenced to two weeks in prison for breaching the restriction on social activities as stipulated in the COVID-19 Emergency Measures. The 31-year-old, who last represented Guyana against Jamaica in their 1-1 draw in Kingston, in 2019, was arrested on January 24, and appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Wanda Fortune on Wednesday to answer the charge. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $30 000. Nobrega made a second appearance on Wednesday, January 27 before the same magistrate. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment.