FIFA, football’s world governing body, has been ordered to pay $60,000 to the Trinidad and Tobago Supreme Court Registrar on or before October 15. This is in relation to a costs application filed by the United TTFA attorney, Matthew Gayle, in the Court of Appeal in Port of Spain on Monday. If FIFA fails to pay the sum within the stipulated time, its appeal to not have the case against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) heard in local courts will be thrown out.
TTFA President William Wallace
FIFA removed the William Wallace-led executive from the helm of the TTFA in mid-March citing massive debt and financial mismanagement. The sport’s governing body then appointed a Normalization Committee to run Trinidad and Tobago’s football affairs. The ousted regime deemed this move by FIFA “illegal” and opted to contest the matter in local courts.
FIFA, however, maintains the stance that the Court of Arbitration (CAS) in Switzerland is the only recognized path to resolve such disputes. If FIFA does not pay the money, the procedural appeal cannot go forward and cannot be heard on October 19. This means United TTFA would win the appeal to have the case heard in Trinidad.
