Amidst pressure from the world governing body of football, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has revised its constitution, bringing it in line with the constitutional reforms required by FIFA.
During a media briefing at the GFF head office yesterday, GFF President Colin Klass disclosed that the constitution was revised and approved by FIFA.
Also at the head table with Klass were GFF General Secretary Noel Adonis, national football coach Wayne Dover and GFF Organising Secretary, Aubrey `Shanghai’ Major.
Klass explained that for a number of years FIFA has been addressing the issue of constitutional reform in all the 208 countries whose football is governed by that body. “We [the GFF] were asked to deal with ours since 2007, since then it has been to-and-fro trying to get the constitution in line,” he added.
According to Klass, the GFF was called to a meeting where they were asked to do the necessary amendment because “all constitutions must come in line with that of FIFA.”
Further Klass explained that after the amendment was done and approval was given by FIFA’s legal department, the constitution was finally approved by FIFA. “The draft approved by FIFA, we also distributed to our various constituents and on Sunday last the new constitution was officially endorsed by the General Council and it is now being returned to FIFA, who will now sign off on it finally and return it to us,” Klass explained.
“We have now joined the band of those few in the world who have every thing now in order,” said Klass.
He disclosed that documentation that is new to the GFF like the disciplinary code was also adjusted, along with the rules and regulations and the code of ethics, which is a new document drafted by FIFA. He added that the new constitution “will embrace everyone and everybody that is associated with football.”
Klass stated that the new constitution includes documents that are fairly new to the GFF, but now that the constitution is in order the federation will address these hopefully by next year.
“Hopefully by next year we will have all the other issues straightened out, it shouldn’t be that difficult because the lead has already been established in terms of the constitution.
“Again this is another proud moment for us that we have been able to achieve… it was long outstanding,” Klass added.
