GFF Normalization Committee Chairman Clinton Urling says the entity is waiting on a response from FIFA after filing a protest against St. Vincent and the Grenadines regarding the fielding of an ineligible player during their 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.
In an invited comment, Urling said “The protest has been lodged with FIFA and we now await their judgment”.
According to earlier information emanating from the GFF, the contentious Vincentian player is forward Garvin James. The sources noted that James, who is English by birth is not a holder of a Vincentian passport and as such, violated FIFA’s regulation regarding eligibility of individuals.
The sources further said that the word body’s rules for the 2018 World Cup states that passports are the only official documentation that can prove a competing player’s nationality. Due to this regulation, the GFF had written to FIFA regarding the matter following their elimination.
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 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 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 goals.
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 sources, if the GFF is successful in their appeal the result could possibility be reversed to a 3-0 victory and a fine would be imposed on the Vincentians.
The sources further said that a favourable ruling would also translate to Guyana automatically qualifying for the next round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
