KEITH LOOK Loy, technical committee chairman of the TT Football Association (TTFA) has described as cynical and hypocritical FIFA's agreement to “bail out” the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) of its US$10 million debt.
According to Zimbabwean media, the world governing body of football approved a “package” for ZIFA that is expected to be released in June under the FIFA Forward Programme.
This is in addition to the US$1 million grant FIFA issues to the association annually.
The Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe said, “FIFA have approved two of the eight project applications, which ZIFA tendered, under the FIFA Forward Programme.
“The other project which, was approved and will receive funding from Zurich, is the association’s restructuring.”
The Herald report said the project aims to “professionalise” the association, and that auditors are currently verifying figures with organisations and individuals owed by ZIFA.
Look Loy finds this questionable since FIFA removed the former TTFA executive in March and appointed a normalisation committee owing to “low financial management methods” and “a massive debt.”
The TTFA currently has a debt of approximately $50 million — most of which was accumulated during the tenure of its former president David John-Williams.
Look Loy is now asking why the same privilege is not being extended to T&T.
Speaking with Newsday on Saturday evening, he said, “The debt situation is the same. Why is Wallace being punished for someone else's debt while in Zimbabwe their debt is being cleared?
“It is increasingly clear that FIFA's action in the case of TTFA is arbitrary and punitive. It is increasingly clear that, as United TTFA has said, that FIFA is seeking to impose its so-called normalisation committee, not to clear Association debt but to shroud its origin and FIFA's own complicity in (the committee's) creation.”
Represented by attorney Dr Emir Crowne, embattled TTFA president William Wallace and his team appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
But, after indicating that they felt CAS was being unfair, they recently appealed to T&T’s High Court.
Look Loy said the Government and the T&T Olympic Committee should call on FIFA to “explain its transparently unequal treatment of the Wallace administration in light of this revelation.”
Several staff members have not been able to receive payments for months as neither Wallace nor Hadad – chairman of the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee – have access to the TTFA’s bank accounts.
For Hadad, it is because of the TTFA constitution and for Wallace, it is because of his removal by FIFA.
In addition to Hadad, the committee consists of deputy chairperson Judy Daniel and committee member Nigel Romano.
FIFA had told Newsday, by e-mail, the members were chosen through a “series of interviews” with FIFA and Concacaf representatives.
It said two more members will be soon appointed.
When asked if the members were being paid, FIFA never responded.