A friend once told me we live in a world where right is called wrong and wrong labelled right. No truer words especially when one looks at the present scenario involving the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and FIFA, the world governing body for the sport of football.
Just to go back a little, William Wallace and his executive were democratically elected into office last November to run the affairs of local football for the next four years. Wallace headed his slate and was also elected president. That was the easy part...or so they thought.
Four months later, Wallace and his executive are in a battle of survival with the world body for the sport. The duly elected executive headed by William Wallace was removed by FIFA and replaced by normalisation committee.
For redress, the TTFA sought out the international court of arbitration for sport. This proved not to be in the best interest of the TTFA. The next move for Wallace and his executive was the high courts in the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago in which a Football Association was established through an act of Parliament.
What is somewhat difficult for me to come to terms with is the non support of Concacaf, the Caribbean Football Union and former national players at home.
In some quarters, there is a call for Wallace and company to throw in the towel. Don’t take on the world governing body for the sport. Some are even saying Wallace must see Trinidad and Tobago football as the bigger picture if there is to be a revival of the game locally. But, I recall former world champion Claude Noel taking the World Boxing Association to court for the right to have his title shot which won this country’s first world title.
But, back to Wallace and his executive. They did it the right way to get into office but, it appears to me by the treatment they have received they went about it the wrong way.
What are the lessons William Wallace a school teacher by profession learned from this experience? Right is wrong and wrong is right.
My heart bleeds for William Wallace and his executive. My advice to him is to stay strong, don’t be bitter after this ordeal but come out better than you entered. I salute you and the men who stand with you in this courageous fight.
SOURCE: T&T Express