The TT Pro League and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation have resolved the matter regarding the FIFA 5Day ruling enforced by the TTFF this week.
According the TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene, the decision made by both parties for the Digicel Pro League fixtures to be maintained was for the betterment of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
Rescheduled Round Two Match Day Eleven clashes between San Juan Jabloteh vs Bmobile Joe Public and W Connection vs Ma Pau SC on Tuesday afternoon at the Ato Boldon Stadium will now be played according to schedule.
On Monday the TTFF sent out a press release which stated: “...following a meeting of the LOC 2010 yesterday morning, the Executive Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation met in emergency session and decided to enforce the FIFA Regulations with regard to the organization of matches prior to the conduct of a World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) match.
The release further stated: “With immediate effect there shall be no matches in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League five (5) days before a World Cup Qualifying match.”
Trinidad and Tobago will host the US in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and some teams are affected with national players on duty such as Joe Public without key players Kerry Baptiste, Hayden Tinto and Keyeno Thomas; W Connection without goalkeepers Jan Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip and midfielder Hughtun Hector; San Juan Jabloteh without Dennis Lawrence and Ma Pau SC without Lyndon Andrews.
The TT Pro League met on the matter with an emergency Board meeting of its own at the League’s office in Curepe on Tuesday afternoon which lasted approximately two hours.
Following the meeting Skeene expressed satisfaction after discussions with the Board members and a representative of the TTFF [via telephone].
“We have discussed the matter regarding the directive by the TTFF and coming out of very cordial talks with the TTFF, it was decided that the fixtures be maintained,” Skeene told a subsequent press gathering. “We see it as a maturing in the League when people can come together and resolve such matters.”
It was also decided to have further meetings with the TTFF regarding the FIFA 5Day ruling and other scheduling matters.
Prior to the start of the 2009 season, it was agreed by the clubs that rosters be open from 25 to 35 players to combat hectic schedules such as World Cup qualifiers, CONCACAF Champions’ League and other domestic fixtures whilst not hampering the regular League fixtures.
San Juan Jabloteh will tackle Joe Public from 5pm in a top of the table clash in the first match of a rescheduled Round Two Match Day Eleven double header. And from 7pm W Connection will contest Ma Pau SC in another highly anticipated clash.
Action will continue on Saturday when W Connection hosts Joe Public in a rescheduled Round Two Match Day Seven clash from 6pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
TTFF enforces 5-day FIFA rule for Pro League Schedule but...
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation wishes to inform you of the contents of a coorespondence sent to the Digicel T&T Pro League, enforcing the FIFA regulations with regard to the organization of matches prior to the conduct of a World Cup (WCQ) match.
The letter send and signed by TTFF President Oliver Camps on September 4 stated:
“Re the above referenced subject, I do wish to advise that, following a meeting of the LOC 2010 yesterday morning, the Executive Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation met in emergency session and decided to enforce the FIFA Regulations with regard to the organization of matches prior to the conduct of a World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) match.
“With immediate effect there shall be no matches in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League five (5) days before a World Cup Qualifying match.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation kindly requests that you bring the contents of this letter to the participating clubs in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Oliver Camps
The TTFF has noted though that the T&T Pro League has gone ahead and scheduled a round of matches for Tuesday September 8,2009. There was also an encounter on Sunday involving W Connection and Tobago United, as well as matches last Friday and Saturday, the day of this country’s 2010 World Cup qualifier versus Honduras.
The TTFF has noted too that this creates the possibility of a problem whereby clubs could find it difficult to agree to requests for the release of players for international duty.