By Rawle Toney
Following the announcement by former president of Riddim Squad Football Club, Eton Cordis that he will be taking the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to court after he had been stabbed at the Tucville ground three weeks ago during a football match between Riddim Squad and Pele, the GFF is now threatening to suspend the club if the lawsuit goes through.
In a letter dated, November 14 and signed by GFF President Colin Klass, the football federation informed the club (Riddim Squad) that in the event that they meet in court, they will be forced by its constitution to suspend them from all football and related activities which fall under their aegis.
The letter sent to Susan Beharry, Secretary of Riddim Squad Football Club, quoted Article 46 of the Federation’s Constitution which inter alia states: “Affiliates, clubs, or club members shall not be permitted to refer disputes with the federation, members and club members to a court of law and they shall agree to submit each of such dispute to an arbitration tribunal appointed.”
It went on to state: “All members agree that where the rules of the federation are exhausted and dissatisfaction still obtains, the matter in dispute shall within 30 days be referred to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), CONCACAF or FIFA and there shall be no appeal against the decision of the arbitration.”
But Cordis, at a press conference last Friday at Water Chris Hotel, announced that he had resigned as president of Riddim Squad and had severed all ties with the club.
Cordis had told the press conference that he did not want to be affiliated with football administration in Guyana. He said further that for the effort he had made in building the team to where it is now, he wouldn’t accept that he could have been injured at their event and cannot take recourse since that is ridiculous.
The former Riddim Squad boss said he was disappointed that GFF did not provide proper security, especially since the assailant was a known character where violence was concerned. He added that the GFF has not done enough after the incident and therefore he will be pursuing the matter in court.
But Klass in his letter to the club stated that Riddim Squad which is legally bound to observe the prescription of their constitution, the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and the GFF will ensure that no action is taken which will result in the suspension of their club from participating in football which falls under the aegis of the GFF.
Riddim Squad, who had recently moved up to the premier league of the GFA by virtue of winning the first division league, is set to make their Kashif and Shanghai debut on December 18 against Anns Grove at the Enmore Community Center ground.
Contacted for a commitment, co-organisor of the tournament, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major told Stabroek Sports that they were ignorant of the case and neither GFF nor Riddim Squad had informed them of the matter.