Guaya United FC is challenging the T&T Football Association's (TTFA) decision to put Harlem Strikers ahead of them in Tier 2 of the T&T Premier Football League as the sixth-placed team in the 11-team standings.
After Saturday's lone match between Guaya United FC and Bethel in Tobago, the men from southeast Trinidad got a hat-trick from Ricardo John and another item from Deron John in a convincing 4-2 victory, which should have earned them the sixth position on a head-to-head comparison.
The top six teams in the competition will be selected for the Big Six Play-Off starting on Wednesday.
The sixth-placed team will open their play-off campaign with a meeting against Police.
Yesterday coach Travis Mulraine confirmed that his manager Randy Hagley has officially written to the football association querying how Strikers were placed in the sixth spot ahead of them.
Before Saturday's encounter, the Strikers were on 13 points from 10 matches, with a goal difference of zero, with 11 goals scored and as many conceded.
Guaya, on the other hand, had 10 points from nine matches, with a goal difference of -2 from 11 goals scored and 13 received. However, their 4-2 victory turned the tide in their favour, despite the stats being almost identical. The win placed Guaya equal on 13 points, with an identical goal difference of zero (15 goals for and 15 against) to Strikers.
Mulraine pointed to the FIFA rule, which states that a head-to-head comparison should be used to determine the team that goes forward.
It states: "Goals Scored: This is the most simple tiebreaker. If teams have the same points, total, and goal difference, the team that scored more goals finishes higher.
"Head to Head results: If the teams can't be broken up on goal totals, FIFA zooms in on the game they played against each other."
The TTFA has already put the Strikers down to face the Lawmen on Wednesday.
Tobago giants FC Phoenix took the top spot on the standings with 24 points from 10 matches, with Queen's Park in second position with 23 points. Both teams sealed the top two qualifying Big Six places, with Police taking the third on 19 points.
However, Petit Valley Diego Martin United sealed the fourth-place position on the standing after beating Bethel 3-1 last week Wednesday at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, thereby leaving San Fernando Giants in the fifth spot on 14 points.
It meant that the Strikers (on 13 points) and Guaya (on 10 points then) were locked in a battle for the final spot.
Mulraine said he always knew that a victory by two clear goals would have been sufficient for them to secure the sixth spot.
"We got the win 4-2. We also scored more goals than the Harlem Strikers so should be rightfully placed ahead of them. I saw the TTFA put Harlem down as the sixth-placed team but we are going to query it and see what happens."
Guardian Media tried to reach out to TTFA general secretary Amiel Mohammed to shed light on the issue raised by Guaya United but calls went unanswered.
STANDINGS
Team*P*W*L*D*GF*GA*GD*Pts
1*FC Phoenix*10*7*0*3*23*9*14*24
2*QPCC FC*10*7*1*2*21*7*14*23
3*TT Police FC*10*5*1*4*19*8*11*19
4*PVDM UTD 2*10*5*4*1*20*20*0*16
5*San Fernando Giants FC*10*4*4*2*7*14*-7*14
6*Guaya United*10*3*3*4*15*15*0*13
7*Harlem Strikers FC*10*4*5*1*11*11*0*13
8*TT Defence Force FC*10*2*4*4*15*12*3*10
9*UTT Tier 2*10*1*5*4*15*22*-7*7
10*Matura Reunited*9*2*6*1*7*18*-11*7
11*Bethel SC*8*0*4*4*6*18*-12*4
16 