I refer to my letter to the editor (Express, May 15) on the situation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and their spat with FIFA, where I commented on the futility of TTFA’s stance and sought to put the right context to the comments made by Colin Murray (on the moral authority of FIFA) and the non-relevance this has to the particulars of this TTFA vs FIFA issue.
I now see the matter has gone to the High Court. This move simplifies the process of resolution and will go far to preventing any serious fallout between Trinidad and Tobago and FIFA over the short or medium term.
Allowing the High Court in Trinidad and Tobago to address the matter has made the process more straightforward and will create no obstacle for the local court to end this charade in a manner that preserves the integrity and dignity of our nation.
The only parties impacted will be the current TTFA administrators.
William Wallace can still be offered kudos for his valiant stance and we can then close the chapter on this awkward misadventure.
The local court gets a chance to quell the imperiousness of the local body through a purely local process, thus leaving FIFA and its general relationship with Trinidad and Tobago unscathed.
The basis of the action is already circumscribed. TTFA has little latitude to usurp the rules of the international body, especially when FIFA is acting within its own self- regulating standards and procedures.
FIFA is still within its own jurisdiction to act. The issue of a civil action for committing a wrong within the jurisdiction of T&T will logically require a different set of offences on the part of FIFA.
Such offences are not likely to be found given the nature of the issue. FIFA has the authority of its bye-laws both behind it and on its side.
I trust we will soon see the end of this issue and the ushering in of a transformation that can see football administration in T&T progress to a higher level of accountability and integrity.
Notwithstanding all this, the basic culture of corruption that still pervades this society needs to be vigilantly guarded against and not allowed to seep into what has been otherwise changed for the better.
John Thompson
St James
SOURCE: T&T Express