Inaugural Stag Beer Elite League champion Slingerz FC threatens legal action against the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) if it is not allowed to compete in the 2017 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.
This intention was revealed by Club Manager Collin `BL’ Aaron, who during an exclusive interview, declared:“We will seek legal consultation and will have a legal battle. During this process the two clubs will dissolve and finish with football as there is nothing to invest in. Both club owners have already discussed that,” he added.
Efforts to reach Alpha United boss Odinga Lumumba were unsuccessful as Stabroke Sports was told that he is out of the jurisdiction.
However, Fiona Hamilton, Secretary of Alpha United, during an invited comment said:“Let’s see what they [GFF] say. We can’t say whether we will do ‘A’ or ‘B’, we have not met as an executive on the matter and we have not received anything from the GFF so we can’t make a pronouncement.”
She added that the club will make its position known once the federation makes their decision. Slingerz FC and Alpha United earned the right to represent Guyana at the continental club competition after finishing the 2015/2016 league season as the winner and runners-up respectively.
However, doubt was cast over their participation after their withdrawal from the 2016/2017 Elite League season along with Pele FC and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) after the clubs and the federation failed to reach agreement on several issues.
The main dispute was the GFF’s decision to increase the membership of the tournament to 10 teams without consultation. The six-team league eventually commenced November 20 last with newcomers Topp XX and Victoria Kings included.
Aaron, who is also a member of the Kashif and Shanghai Organization added:“We are awaiting them. We [all four clubs] have taken the matter to the GFF Disciplinary Committee and we are supposed to have a hearing at the end of the week.”
According to Aaron: “Mr. [Javed] Ali was motivated by the Kashif and Shanghai tournament, decided to form a team to reach CFU and get the returns on his investment but the investment here is nothing. The club has no sponsorship so he uses his own money. He has invested, the team has qualified officially for CFU and now is being denied to play in the tournament.
“This has nothing to do with CONCACAF. Mr. Forde (Wayne) has to make some form of representation for the clubs. We [Slingerz FC] called CONCACAF asking if we are in the tournament, what group we were in, if we are traveling or hosting and it was suggested that we talk to the Guyana FA.
“GFF has to green light us, we have not been suspended. If we were suspended then we would not be able to play. If you are not suspended then you can play. Yes, we will seek legal consultation, we have always said that there will be consequences. We will also seek compensation for the league,” he added.
According to an official from the GFF, CONCACAF has ruled on the issue and the GFF is expected to make the ruling known shortly.
