GFF seeking legal advice on FIFA’s ruling

While the technical staff of the St Vincent and the Grenadines senior men’s football team is busily preparing their charges for the third round of the World Cup Qualifiers on September 4 and 8 versus Aruba, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is running the length of the field, seeking legal advice on a recent FIFA ruling.{{more}}

The GFF, on June 16, had written to FIFA a protest letter questioning the eligibility of English born Gavin James, who was part of the St Vincent and the Grenadines team that played against Guyana June 10 and 14.

In presenting its case, the GFF argued that James did not have a Vincentian passport, but was the holder of a British one instead.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s defence included proof that both of James’ biological parents were born in St Vincent and the Grenadines; article 92 of the constitution of St Vincent and the Grenadines relating to citizenship; a copy of the stamp in James’ British passport from the St Vincent and the Grenadines immigration department; a letter from the immigration stating that he had applied for citizenship, but was awaiting his passport and a copy of James’ birth certificate and copies of his parents’ birth certificates.

FIFA, as a consequence, did not uphold the protest, thus allowing St Vincent and the Grenadines to advance.

When the two teams met, the matches ended 2-2 in the first leg on June 10 and 4-4 in Guyana on June 14. The aggregate stood at 6-6, but St Vincent and the Grenadines had won the tie by the fact they scored four goals in Guyana, thus prevailing on the away goals ruling.

In a letter dated July 29, sent by FIFA’s director of legal affairs Marco Villiger through e-mail and telefax to General Secretary of the GFF Richard Groden, it informed: “after careful examination of all the requested information and documentation, it was considered that no further intervention was necessary in such context.”

President of the SVGFF Venold Coombs, at a recent press conference, referred to actions of the GFF as “sour grapes.”

“They (GFF) went and hype up and bring in almost a whole team from overseas…. And they have a world-class coach, so their pride got hurt,” Coombs contended.(RT)