ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – FIFA attorney John Collins has called for an end to lingering infighting among clubs making up the Grenada Football Association (GFA).
Collins is currently compiling a report to submit to FIFA after completing an investigation into the GFA in which he interviewed officials on various sides of the conflict.
He visited St George’s to conduct the probe after 19 clubs voted to remove the Ashley ‘Ram’ Folkes led executive amid objections from Folkes that the vote was not in keeping with GFA statutes.
“Right now, there are fractions and they are not moving forward as one family and hopefully something will happen so everybody could move together,” Collins told CMC Sport.
Collins, who arrived here a week ago to probe the dispute, declined to say what specific recommendations he would be putting forward or how soon FIFA would rule, but he promised to outline to the world football’s government body how urgent the situation has become.
The feud within the GFA has led to the suspension of the new football season which started in early August.
“Based on my meetings with the clubs and with the executive committee, I will write a report on the events of the summer on how the GFA got to where it is today,” Collins explained.
“Based on that report FIFA would make some decisions as to what it wants to do going forward. I recognize the urgency of the situation here and I would make that understood so FIFA could act promptly,” he said.
Folkes had survived a no-confidence motion last year and a FIFA report on the controversy then found him guilty of violating statutes and blocking crucial meetings of the GFA General Council.
Amid fears here that Grenada could be suspended from FIFA, local officials are also speculating that Collins may recommend fresh elections.
“He might decide to go for a straight election rather than a no-confidence motion which is very difficult to attain. There was a no-confidence motion just six months ago you need about 20 something clubs,” said Alister Debellotte, a council member in support of the Folkes administration.
“To me, you would not win on that but an election gives somebody else another opportunity and I think in my opinion that is what it might head for,” added Debellotte, a former national coach.
