The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has suspended several players and an official for their participation in the unsanctioned Magnum Tonic Wine ‘Unfinished Business’ Futsal Tournament, which concluded on Saturday.
This was confirmed by a release from the federation to its member associations, affiliates, and elite league clubs. According to the correspondence, which was dated June 19th, and signed by General Secretary Ian Alves, the suspended players are Daniel Wilson, Pernell Schultz, Colin Nelson, Nicholas MacArthur, Jermaine Junior, Gregory Richardson, Clive Nobrega, Jermaine Beckles, Eusi Phillips, Jamal Pedro, Hubert Pedro, Randolph Wagner and Darren Niles. The penalized official is Travis Bess.
The release stated, “I write on behalf of the President and Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation. GFF Memo dated June 16, 2022, on the subject at caption refers [Non Participation in Unsanctioned Tournaments]. It was reported to the GFF that Sports Management Inc. proceeded with the futsal tournament on Saturday, June 18th, 2022, notwithstanding receipt of correspondence from the GFF advising that certain requirements were necessary before the conduct of the tournament could have been sanctioned or approved; an action which was a clear violation of the established protocol for conducting privately organized tournaments and a flagrant disregard for the federation.”
“Additionally, it was also reported that National team players, ATC staff, and possibly other registered members of the GFF participated in the tournament. The Executive Committee is therefore now directing that the players and officials who participated in the tournament not be allowed to take any further part in the current Regional Associations (RA) Senior Men’s League, nor any other GFF-conducted tournaments until they appear before the GFF Disciplinary Committee (DC). Each member to whom this correspondence is addressed is required to immediately formally inform their respective relevant club (s)/player (s) of the provisional suspension of the players and officials until their appearance before the DC, and to ensure their non-participation in the GFF or RA tournaments until such time as the federation pronounces otherwise”, the release said.
The federation had initially stated that the Magnum Tonic Wine ‘Unfinished Business’ Futsal Tournament had not been sanctioned or approved for commencement via an official press release.
The correspondence stated, “The GFF reminds all stakeholders that under FIFA’s global structure of football governance and its Constitution, the GFF controls football in all its forms in Guyana. Therefore, the GFF regulations, under its Constitution, are in place to protect the interests and welfare of players, match officials, and coaches, and to safeguard the future development, good governance, and orderly organization of football. The GFF seizes this opportunity to remind Regional Associations and all Affiliates of Article 13:1(h) of the GFF Constitution, which obligates Members’ Registered Players and Officials not to maintain any relations of a sporting nature with entities (e.g. clubs, Leagues) that are not Members or Affiliates nor with Members that have been suspended or expelled’.”
The release also noted that Article 13:2 clearly states that violation of the aforementioned statutes by any member may lead to sanctions outlined in the constitution, adding that non-adherence to Article 13:1 (h) can lead to penalties to the guilty party.
