AFTER saying it was duty-bound to file a protest to CONCACAF and FIFA once it could have validated the report by Inside World Football that Trinidad and Tobago fielded an ineligible player in the Dominican Republic, during the opening round of matches in the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifiers, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has complied.

According to a release from GFF, it has submitted an official protest to FIFA regarding the selection of Andre Boucaud by the twin-island republic in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March.

The GFF said that following an extensive investigation and careful consultation with its legal team it has written FIFA, urging the global governing body of football to consider its case. “We have taken this matter very seriously and have presented our findings to FIFA– that Boucaud was ineligible to play for Trinidad and Tobago as a registered intermediary with the English Football Association.

The GFF also pointed out that it believed that Boucaud was ineligible for selection as a registered intermediary and, as such, that any points secured by Trinidad and Tobago during any related FIFA World Cup qualification matches should be forfeited.

In their FIFA World Cup qualification match on March 25, Guyana lost 0-3 to Trinidad and Tobago. Boucaud, who was registered as an intermediary with the English Football Association at the time, was selected in Trinidad and Tobago’s matchday squad.

The GFF said that under FIFA rules, “all conflicts of interest with intermediaries – or agents – must be avoided. Intermediaries cannot have any contractual relationship with a national football association. Under English Football Association rules, players cannot be registered intermediaries.”
GFF president Wayne Forde is adamant that “it is vital for the integrity and fairness of the game that the rules are respected and upheld by everyone. We look forward to FIFA’s response in due course.”

Boucaud was an unused substitute against Guyana but played during Trinidad and Tobago’s one-all draw versus Puerto Rico on March 28. Trinidad and Tobago are drawn alongside Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas.

The 36-year-old Boucard, who last featured for Trinidad and Tobago in March 2017, had not played for at least seven months before his call-up by coach Terry Fenwick.
The Inside World Football report stated that Boucard was playing for Maidstone United in England’s sixth tier, though a search of records shows no indication of his registration. However, Inside World Football noted that he was registered as a player intermediary with the English FA.

English FA rules expressly prohibit an agent playing competitively in the elite professional and semi-professional tiers of the game.

Rule 1.2 of Appendix II in the English FA rules states; “An Official (as defined by the FIFA Statutes or any successor here to) or a Player cannot be an Intermediary. An Intermediary becoming an Official or a Player shall have his Registration suspended for as long as he remains an Official or a Player.”

Boucard was subsequently pulled from the list of English FA player agents and his licence temporarily suspended.