CFU president warns TTFA of FIFA sanction

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Caribbean Football Union boss Randy Harris believes the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will face sanction from FIFA, after the landmark decision handed down in the High Court here this week against the world governing body.

While stressing that he did not speak on the behalf of the Zurich-based organisation, Barbadian Harris indicated that there was precedent for action against the TTFA, as FIFA often tried to discourage member associations from legal disputes.

“I can’t really speak for FIFA, but normally that would be the case, suspension of the member association,” Harris said.

“FIFA can make that decision of suspension, but it is up to the congress to decide if they would agree with that suspension or not. But I believe that some action will be taken against Trinidad and Tobago.

“I’m hoping that won’t be the case, because this is the first time such a decision has been made in the football world and we will all await to see how FIFA deals with the matter.”

In a landmark 24-page ruling this week, Justice Carol Gobin concluded that arbitration was not the “appropriate forum” for the settlement of the ongoing dispute.

The ruling was a blow to FIFA’s bid to have the dispute with the TTFA heard by the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“This is a matter which falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the High Court of this country. This is not a matter for the Court of Arbitration for Sports,” the court said.

Harris, the president of the Barbados Football Association, told i95 FM Sports that the ruling would resonate among member associations, especially since it impacted the established system of governance enforced by FIFA.

“But I can tell you, this is a big, big decision in the football world, because all of the MAs (member associations) affiliated to FIFA are at this time believing they play under the FIFA statutes and their governance,” Harris explained.

“And this plays a different tune, so we will wait and see what FIFA has to say about it and, of course, I hope that everything runs well for Trinidad and Tobago.

“This decision really turns this over on their heads, because all the MAs in FIFA are of the opinion that we follow the FIFA statutes and abide by the rules and regulations of FIFA. FIFA is the world football [governing] body but, of course, we are independent nations.

“I have not read the full judgment, but I will await and see how this pans out now for the other MAs playing under FIFA’s jurisdiction.”

Harris is also a vice-president of the continental governing body, Concacaf.