The 2006 World Cup bonus dispute returns to the Port of Spain High Court from 9.30 am today with Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) general secretary Richard Groden and ex-president Oliver Camps facing contempt charges for their failure to initiate legal action against former special advisor and National Security Minister Jack Warner.
Groden and Camps testified that Warner is the only person who knows the whereabouts of millions in 2006 World Cup income. However, despite the urgings of Justice Devindra Rampersad, Groden refused to file suit against Warner on the grounds that it might open up the TTFF to a counter-suit for money owed to the Chaguanas West MP.
Groden’s stance prompted an application for contempt by the 13 World Cup 2006 players on 3 May 2012.
The contempt charge will be heard by Justice Vashiest Kokoram after Rampersad recused himself following accusations of bias by Groden in June. Rampersad retains the substantive brief between the two parties on the bonus agreement.
The players agreed a deal for 50 percent of all World Cup revenue with Warner in June 2006. However, the TTFF subsequently offered the “Soca Warriors” TT$5,644 each.
The two parties subsequently ended up in court and, thus far, the High Court has awarded interim payments of $7 million and $4.6 million in 2011. The latter figure is yet to be paid.
However, Wired868 understands there is feverish activity behind the scenes as both sides attempt to reach a final financial settlement. The TTFF’s renewed zest to negotiate coincides with the players’ stated intention to go after Warner.
In five years of court proceedings, from the London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP) to the local High Court, Warner has never appeared before a judge in relation to this case despite the TTFF’s claims that he banked the money.
On 12 January 2012, Justice Rampersad rejected an application from the “Soca Warriors” to join Warner to the case after the MP’s written commitment to provide the High Court with the necessary accounting information. Warner did not fulfill that promise and the TTFF has so far resisted taking legal action against its former agent.
However, the players’ English attorney Michael Townley believes that they now have enough information to successfully tie Warner to the case, based, in part, on an affidavit sworn by Camps on 6 July 2012.
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