Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) general secretary Richard Groden and former president Oliver Camps will be very busy over the next seven days if they are to avoid being held in contempt of a High Court order.
Groden and Camps were served for contempt of court by legal representatives of 13 World Cup 2006 players on 1 March and 5 March 2012 respectively after the TTFF’s repeated refusals to sue its former special advisor and National Security Minister Jack Warner for outstanding income statements related to the tournament.
Last Thursday, the “Soca Warriors” agreed to adjourn its contempt application providing that Groden uses “his nest endeavours” to obtain information on the TTFF’s 2006 World Cup income within a stipulated deadline.
Wired868 can now exclusively reveal the painstaking detail required if the TTFF General Secretary and ex-President are to avoid the resuscitation of their contempt charge.
The Warriors’ London-based attorney, Michael Townley, sent an 11-page to-do list to Groden’s attorney, Derek Ali, and demanded satisfaction or else Groden and Camps “may be held in contempt of court and imprisoned or fined.”
There was a warning too for anyone who tried to deceive the World Cup players.
“Any other person, including the First Defendant and any officers thereof, who know of this Order,” stated Townley, “and does anything which helps or permits the within-named Richard Groden and/or the within-named Oliver Camps to breach the terms of this Order may also be held in contempt of court. And may be imprisoned, fined or, if a body corporate, have their assets seized.”
Groden is expected to respond today to a fresh provocation by Sport Minister Anil Roberts who yesterday had a cheque for the local football body written out to TTFF employee and national senior team manager William Wallace.
But he would be wary that his first deadline, as given by Townley, is on Friday 26 October 2012.
By Friday, Groden must deliver proof that he requested a written account of all money given to the TTFF in relation to the 2006 World Cup campaign from: FIFA, Ross Advertising (as its licensing and merchandising agent) and sponsors including Adidas, TSTT/bMobile, SM Jaleel/Busta, KFC, Carib Breweries, PHB Billiton, Phillips Domestic Appliances, Panini SPA, Petrotrin, Titan Methanol, British Gas, eBay, National Lotteries Control Board, Atlantic LNG, Republic Bank, Sony, Crowne Plaza Hotel and “any other entity that Mr Groden knows or believes might have entered into a commercial partner agreement in respect of the national football team’s participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals.”
In relation to the TTFF’s commercial sponsors, Groden must write to the Finance Director and CEO while, in case of a group structure, the TTFF must send correspondence to the Finance Director of the group holding company as well as to any company that did business with the local football body.
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