Football in Guyana continues to be in the limelight for conflicts. Now, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is being sued by the Alpha United and Slingerz Football Clubs for over $88 Million.
The two Elite League clubs have since been granted an interim injunction against the GFF, but the GFF President appears to know nothing about the injunction.
The injunction restrains the respondent from holding and electing officers of the executive committee at the Congress; paying out the prize money of the Guyana Football Federation’s Elite League 2016/2017; and holding congress to amend the constitution to increase the membership of Elite League clubs from eight to ten.
However, to much surprise, Forde told media operatives on Saturday that he has no knowledge of the injunction despite sources close to the matter revealing that “Deputy General Secretary (Ag) Ronella Bourne collected the document”.
“I have no knowledge of what you are talking about… I think you are going to have those facts examined. We are not aware of filing (or) serving of any application that you are referring to…We have no knowledge of anything being filed or served; and until such (time as we are aware), we cannot comment on it”, Forde said in address to the media after the congress.
The matter stems from four Elite League teams (Alpha, Slingerz, Pele and the Georgetown Football Club) withdrawing from participating in the second edition of the tournament, citing the expansion of the league to 10 teams as their reason for withdrawing.
CONCACAF, and FIFA have all made pronouncements on the matter, agreeing with the Federation’s stance
The four clubs have been relegated to their respective associations, and will have to go through the relegation/promotion system that is set to be implemented by the Federation for them to return into the League.
“There seems to be some confusion. The confusion is that it is incumbent upon these clubs to behave in a manner that would facilitate their reintegration into football”. Forde declared.
“The fours clubs that withdrew have been relegated. They are still members of the federation, because we are going to treat with the membership mechanism through regulations that the Federation through FIFA and CONCACAF (are) drafting and will be tabled at an extraordinary congress in 90 days’ (time). As it stands, we want the players of those clubs to play football. Naturally, their withdrawal from the league resulted in them being relegated. It is up to these clubs now to show willingness to afford the opportunity to their players to play football,” he explained.
He added, “The executive committee has played its part in terms of extending from a constitutional standpoint, and the clubs need to play their part. We are in the business of playing football”.
Forde also drew a line between the rules of the Elite League tournament and the Federation’s constitution, as they are not guided by the same.
The GFF will have 14 days to respond to the matter in the High Court.
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