GFF Disciplinary Committee can’t rule on policy matters
Former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Chief Christopher Matthias has declared, that the federation’s Disciplinary Committee has no authority whatsoever to pronounce on policy matters, and as such, cannot overrule the decisions of CONCACAF and FIFA.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek News, Matthias said, “One has to ask oneself what is the responsibility of the disciplinary committee. From time immemorial to the time of my departure from football, the disciplinary committee has never been one to pronounce on policy. So if the High Court which is CONCACAF makes a decision and the Supreme Court which is FIFA endorses the decision, how could you appeal to a Magisterial Court to overturn the decision of the High Court and Supreme Court? The asylum is now being run by its inmates”.
Despite FIFA and CONCACAF rulings weeks earlier that the GFF has the constitutional power to modify any tournament that falls under its dominion, the Disciplinary Committee has surprisingly ruled that the entity has no such authority.
Asked if the Disciplinary Committee should be disbanded for such a decision, Matthias said, “It know begs the question as to the local standi of the disciplinary committee. I don’t know what was the motive or objective behind the appointment of the disciplinary committee. However I am fully aware that the issue of football has been influenced by other factors outside of football for their own agenda and purpose and when one looks at the Regulations do not constitute a “binding contract” between the Federation and the Clubs participating in the League.
“Unless a specific and separate written agreement between the GFF Executive Committee (or former Normalization Committee) and the Clubs exists and provides to the contrary, the GFF Executive Committee has the authority to modify the GFF Elite League Regulations and would be entitled to add additional participating Clubs,” he said.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of FIFA, Samoura in a letter dated February 1st, 2017 endorsed the decision of CONCACAF. In her missive she stated, “It is within the power of the GFF Executive Committee to change the regulations of the Elite League, including determining the number of participating clubs, unless there is a binding written agreement between the GFF and the Elite League which would state otherwise- to the best of our knowledge, however, such an agreement does not exist.”
Samoura referred to Article 36.21 of the GFF constitution which indicated that it is within the powers of the GFF Executive Committee to draw up regulations governing the conditions of participation in and the staging of competitions organized by the federation including the playing schedule.
FIFA also reiterated that the expansion of the league shall not affect the membership of the GFF congress.