Since Friday we've been reporting that the Football Federation of Belize has been de-certified, meaning the sports council no longer recognizes it as a sports body in Belize.
Well, today, after a long and stony silence, the FFB spoke up, sort of. In a release that, at first, makes out that everything is just "hunky-dory", the FFB talks about the road to World Cup Brazil 2014 and a two game series to be played in Trinidad and Tobago against Montserrat with a return match at the FFB Field in Belmopan on Sunday June 19th. The release advises that tickets for this international match are for sale.
And then, almost as an aside, the release states the FFB "was registered in accordance with the Sports Act." It adds that "The National Sports Council kept changing the requirements for registration and, quote, "we have not been informed of grounds (for suspension)."
It closes with the bold declaration: "until all legal issues have been cleared; the FFB shall and will continue to represent Belizean Football for Belize."
Well, Sports Minister John Saldivar isn't having it. A release from the Ministry of Sports says it has written the Football Federation of Belize informing the body that it "is not authorized to represent this Country in any local or international competition or in any other forum for football on behalf of the Government, People and Nation of Belize."
At Today's press conference, the Prime Minister, while confessing unfamiliarity with the issue, said the principle of national team credentials is clear:
Jules Vasquez
"Finally, should the national team - the national football team - be allowed to travel and operate as the Belize National Football Team, when they play in Trinidad against Montserrat, I believe in the coming weeks - assuming they get a visa?"
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"Well I don't see how they can, apparently there are processes - I'm not as familiar with the issue clearly as the Minister of Sports, but there are processes that have come to a head, and that have resulted in the sort of decertification of FFB. And so, it is my information that in those circumstances, the team can't style itself the National Football Team. And from what I gather, it's not even so much a question for Government - that FIFA would not allow it. There will be some consequences, I gather, visited on Belize, but far as I know, they can't do it."
According to reliable reports, the national section has been denied US visas to transit through Miami to Trinidad for next Wednesday's game because the FFB has been stripped of its national status.
The Ministry has written to governing bodies UNCAF and CONCACAF on this decision, and the Minister has written to FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, to inform him of the decision taken by the Ministry.
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