SVGFF remains committed to regional stability in Football

President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) Venold Coombs believes that it is important that the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) remains a united force in world Football.{{more}}

Coombs, who was set to leave the state last weekend for a special meeting called by FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, for December 20 and 21, made this clear to SEARCHLIGHT last Friday afternoon at the Victoria Park.

“It is a rough time for the CFU, but we have to remain a united front,” Coombs said.

The reconciliation meeting called by Joseph “Sepp” Blatter comes at a time when the regional Football body is grappling with a crisis in its administration, occasioned by the fallout from the ‘cash for vote’ bribery scandal, involving then FIFA presidential candidate Qatari Mohammed bin Hammam.

Since the scandal broke in June, following the May 10 and 11, 2011 Special Meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago, FIFA has banned 11 Caribbean officials for up to 26 months, reprimanded five more and warned six, after allegations that they were involved in $40,000 cash bribes.

“This meeting is one of healing, but I am going there to look out for the interest of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football in the first place, and ultimately the Caribbean,” the local Football boss stated.

Coombs said he is no stranger to such crises and thinks he has the know how to navigate his Executive through the rough times, as Football in the region has basically come to a standstill.

The crisis facing the CFU has also led to the region being without an elected President, as former head Austin “Jack” Warner, who was also a FIFA Vice President, resigned, following his involvement in the said meeting.

Likewise, six others evaded justice by resigning their positions.

The Zurich meeting will also address the leadership issue, as the meeting set for last month to elect a new head had to be postponed.

Jamaica’s Anthony James, Trinidad and Tobago’s Harold Taylor, Antigua and Barbuda’s Gordon Derrick and recently Barbadian Ronald Jones, have expressed interest in vying for the top post.

But Coombs said that St Vincent and the Grenadines has not taken a definitive position as to which candidate it will support.

Coombs, who termed the CFU presidential race as “acrimonious”, was reserved, stating, “We are going look at the candidates and make a decision”.

The Zurich meeting is the first overseas assignment for Coombs, who was elected to the post on September 24, this year.(RT)