The GFF Normalization Committee has filed a complaint with regional confederation CONCACAF against St. Vincent and the Grenadines regarding the fielding of an ineligible player during their 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Guyana suffered a first round elimination at the hands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines via the away goal rule, finishing their two-legged affair 6-6 on aggregate following a 4-4 draw at the National Stadium on June 14th.
In the opening leg at the Arnos Vale Stadium, Guyana and the Vincentians battled to a 2-2 stalemate. Guyana were eliminated on the away goals rule after the visitors scored four goals away from home compared to the Golden Jaguar’s two away goals.
According to reliable sources within the GFF, the contentious Vincentian player is forward Garvin James. The sources said that James who is English by birth is not the holder of a Vincentian passport and as such, violated FIFA’s regulations regarding eligibility of individuals.
Efforts to reach Chairman of the Normalization Committee Clinton Urling for comment on the complaint proved futile. The sources further said that the world body’s rules for 2018 states that passports are the only documentation that can prove a competing player’s nationality and as such, the GFF has written to CONCACAF/FIFA regarding the issue and is awaiting a response.
Guyana had to make do without the services of four of their overseas players following their failures to acquire passports before the first leg in Arnos Vale. The four players were Matthew Briggs, Neil Danns, Sam Cox and Marcel Barrington.
They would eventually be granted passports before the return leg, legally qualifying to play for Guyana.
According to the sources, if the GFF is successful in their appeal the result could possibility be reversed to a 3-0 victory for the local side and the Vincentians will be fined. The sources said this would translate to Guyana automatically qualifying for the next round.
