The Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will reconvene its Annual Ordinary Congress today from 10:00am at Regency Suites.
According to a press release sent out by the federation, the reconvened Congress will deal primarily with filling the void for the posts of the two Vice Presidents and any other motions and amendments to be considered by the Congress.
The vacant positions arose after first vice president Rawleston Adams tendered his resignation in January this year while second vice president and former national player Collie Hercules was slapped with a five year ban.
Hercules was a member of the Upper Demerara Football Association which was found guilty of disobeying the directive of the GFF General Council after the UDFA went against a ruling by the GFF and staged its GT Beer year end competition on January in contravention to the ruling of the GFF Congress.
UDFA president Sharma Solomon was banned for eight years.
Consistent with the provisions of Article 31:8 of the GFF constitution which refers to the procedure for replacement of members of the Executive Committee, the two offices will be up for elections at the Congress, for the remainder of the four-year term in each instance.
Accordingly, written nominations proposing the names of candidates for the two offices, appropriately seconded, must have been submitted by Members for receipt by the GFF Secretariat on or before 11th July, 2014.
“We look forward to the timely receipt of your Associations/Affiliates Nominations, Motions and Proposals and your attendance and participation in the 2014 Reconvened Annual Ordinary Congress,” the GFF stated in its release.
Meanwhile GFF President Christopher Matthias said yesterday that all systems were in place for the reconvening of the Ordinary Congress today at the Regency Hotel in Brickdam.
In a brief comment via telephone, the GFF boss said: “Everything is in place for today’s Congress”.
He noted that all associations have been made aware of the Congress’s recommencement and start time for the event.
Questioned about the status of the international observers, Matthias said that a high powered CONCACAF legal delegation has arrived to witness the Congress.
The GFF April 26th Ordinary Congress which was held the same venue was suspended following disagreements between several GFF associations and the GFF President with regards to the voting eligibility of affiliate members
who were regarded at the time as IMC’s.
This occurred after a no-confidence motion brought against Matthias and GFF executive committee member Keith O’Jeer by several associations.
The bone of contention was whether the Interim Management Committees were be eligible to vote.
These associations who supported and voted for the no confidence motion were the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), National Women’s Football Association (NWFA), Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA), Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC), East Coast Football Association (ECFA) and East Demerara Football Association (EDFA).
Voting against the motion were the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), Bartica Football Association (BFA), Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA), Berbice Football Association and West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), with one WDFA member abstaining.
Attending the April 26th meeting in the capacity of observers were CONCACAF Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal, FIFA developmental Officer Howard McIntosh and CONCACAF Legal Advisor Bruce Blake.
The disgruntled associations then surprisingly in an obvious attempt to railroad the process held a reconvened Congress on May 31 at the Waterchris Hotel where a no-confidence motion against the aforementioned duo was successfully passed.
It was disclosed at the conclusion of the meeting which featured no observers from the international bodies that GFF Vice President Ivan Persaud, would act in the capacity as the interim leader of the federation.
It was further disclosed that within a 60 day period, elections will be held where the respective affiliated clubs will vote to decide the executives of the GFF. The associations that participated in the vote were the GFA, NWFA, GFCA, GFRC, ECFA and EDFA.
The parties then wrote FIFA informing them of the move which was subsequently rejected by FIFA.
FIFA Secretary General Valcke during an official statement said that the world governing body did not recognize the legitimacy of the Ivan Persaud led federation adding that reconvened forum did not follow the correct protocols within the GFF constitution and as such is null and void.
He declared that FIFA officially recognizes the Matthias led organization and that the federation should hold its Congress on or before August 10th 2014 or face possible sanctions.
