A TRINIDAD and Tobago businessman based in London, England has been warned that unless he pays $500,000 upfront to the Jack Warner-controlled Germany 2006 World Cup linked Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), he risks legal action being taken against him.
Daryll Warner, son of FIFA’s Vice-President Jack Warner, signing on behalf of LOC, also reportedly told businessman William Bushe that he will have to pay five per cent of any and all sales his company makes in connection with Soca Warriors’ memorabilia.
That is in addition to the $500,000.
And the contract he will be signing will only be for six months, from January to July 2006.
But some concerned Trinis in London are also asking, who appointed Warner’s son to negotiate on behalf of the TnT’s World Cup football team?
However, in what some have interpreted as a veiled threat, the young Warner also spoke about TTFF having Switzerland-based attorneys at law standing by to seek their interest.
Warner’s letter also exposed the monopolistic control of World Cup 2006 by big business.
He further revealed that three companies have already agreed to pay LOC approximately US$250,000 (TT$1.5 million) upfront for licences to sell items associated with Soca Warriors.
It was indicated to Bushe that his could be the fourth company to become part of a similar Soca Warriors’ deal.
This is the reply William Bushe received from Daryll Warner in response to the proposal sent to TTFF for the production & sale of Soca Warriors’ memorabilia.
DEAR MR. BUSHE,
I have reviewed your proposal and I have the following observations and comments:
(1) TTFF and LOC 2006 Ltd. would have a serious issue of you or your company aligning with any corporate entity without the express and written consent of the TTFF/LOC 2006 Limited.
At the moment, TTFF has the following exclusive sponsors in the following categories, and we will not allow our sponsors to be compromised locally or internationally for obvious reasons:
Carib .................................................. Alcoholic Beverages
TSTT ................................................... Telecommunications
SM Jaleel and Company .................................. Soft Drinks
Blue Waters .................................................. Bottled Water
Adidas ......................... Team clothing and official supplier
FCB ............ Official banking partner of the Soca Warriors
KFC ............................Official partner of the Soca Warriors
Panini SPA .......................................... Licensee for trading cards, stickers, calendars, and other merchandise.
The above sponsors and a few other key but not yet identified sponsors have global exclusivity with the TTFF and Soca Warriors and their rights cannot be inhibited.
Thus, Vodafone cannot be allowed to be one of the companies you associate with or have any designated TTFF merchandise with TTFF logo affiliated with.
Of course, this is also true for other competitors, local and global, of the above-mentioned brands.
(2) Your proposal has no timeframe.
Thus, I propose that we look at January 2006 until July 2006 for any working relationship with July 31, 2006 being the last date of the proposed agreement, and thus you and your company would not be entitled to sell, license, produce or associate with the TTFF, its brand and logos, or any of its merchandise thereafter.
Is this agreeable for you?
(3) TTFF has taken an international license with two reputable companies and one local company.
All of these companies have been commissioned to pay US $80,000 for a licensing fee and this fee is paid upfront and a five per cent retainer for each product sold is charged.
This is standard and we are not prepared to make any exceptions for same.
Based on the above, if you agree, you and your firm would be entitled to pay TTFF via LOC 2006 Ltd. an immediate payment of US$80,000 via a certified cheque, bank draft or wire transfer in the amount of US$80,000 and TTFF would be entitled to five per cent of your gross sales of your proposed merchandise.
In this instance, scarves.
This is very fair considering that branded team scarves in Germany sell for US $10 for one and that you plan to sell a minimum of 20,000 scarves and this translates to US $200,000 for you and your firm.
After TTFF’s rightful allotment of US$80,000, you and your firm would be left with a minimum of US$120,000 (and then a deduction would need to be made for the five per cent retainer fee for each sold product).
Your retainer fee to TTFF for 20,000 scarves sold would be US$10,000.
Therefore, your total profit less other expenses after TTFF’s payments would be US$110,000.
Kindly study my above comments and let me know if we can reach an agreement.
I do trust that we can forge a fruitful relationship and I do look forward to your response.
In closing, please note that the Soca Warriors, TTFF and Strike Squad are registered names and slogans in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland), European Union as well as the USA, Canada, South America and Asia.
Our rights are protected by law and we are represented by Swiss counsel in Zug, Switzerland.
This is not a threat, but merely to sensitise you that we have covered our bases and that you and your firm would also be protected, once you agree to the above terms and conditions, in the above-mentioned territories by any illegal or fraudulent merchant behaviour.
You have my word on this.
With regards,
DARYLL WARNER,
LOC 2006 Limited,
Merchandising, Licensing and Marketing.