PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias stated categorically that Pele FC should have complied with the rules of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), with regard their (Pele) involvement in the GFA’s Georgetown Zone Premier League which got under way last Sunday.

Pele was scheduled to oppose Riddim Squad on the opening day’s fixture at the Tucville ground, but failed to make an appearance, thereby giving Riddim Squad a walkover victory.
When contacted for a comment on Tuesday, the club’s president Cecil Jacques told Chronicle Sport his club would not be participating in the tournament until the club is guided by the GFF regarding their status.
Jacques had said he does not see why his club had to qualify since they have played in the GFF-organised Premier League on two consecutive occasions, the last being last year when they lost in the final.
However, Matthias made it clear that the Premier League which is scheduled to start on October 6 “is not a Super League, this is a Premier League, so all clubs including Pele have to be guided by their respective associations. So if the GFA told Pele, this is it, then they have to respect the GFA. They should have complied and then complain,” the GFF head stated.
“If the instruction was for them to play football, then you comply, if you choose not to play, then you have to live with the consequences,” Matthias declared.
According to Matthias, 16 teams drawn from the GFF’s affiliates will make up the composition of the Premier League, with Georgetown being awarded six spots, Linden three, West Demerara, East Coast and Berbice two each while the other spot will be awarded to the winner of a play-off between East Bank, Bartica and Essequibo.
While the Georgetown Zone is currently under way, the other associations have completed theirs and have already submitted their representative clubs.
Linden will be represented by Milerock, Silver Shattas and Winners Connection; Berbice by Rosignol United and New Amsterdam United’ East Coast by Buxton United and BV/Triumph and West Demerara by Den Amstel and Young Achievers.
According to Matthias, when the tournament gets under way next month, the four teams at the bottom of the points table will be relegated.
Each team will play each other once and matches will be played in each association.
Matthias said that 40 percent of the gate receipts at each match will go the hosting association and another 40 percent will go to the teams involved.
He pointed out that the money must be spent on the development of the association as well as their clubs.
At the end of the tournament, the top four teams will receive $3M, $2M, $1M and $500 000 respectively.
Three points will be awarded for the team who win their match during the 90-minute regulation time. However, should there not be a winner during this time then both teams will be awarded one point each.