7 News Belize

The Fight Over Football Continues In Court
posted (July 14, 2011)
The Football Federation of Belize went back to the Supreme Court today before Justice Minnette Hafiz. This time, the FFB's attorney Elson Kaseke asking for an injunction against the National Sports Council to restrain it from disallowing the FFB access to sporting facilities administered by the Sports Council.

Arguments by Elson Kaseke for the FFB, Nigel Ebanks for the Sports Council and Magali Perdomo for the Government last until after 5:00 this evening.

When it was done we spoke to all sides about the injunction - and the state of things - which is that the Sports Investigation Committee has found that the FFB's December 2010 executive election was not in line with FIFA statutes - that one was a joke to Dr. Bertie.

Elson Kaseke
"I am hopeful that my clients are going to prevail. Look if you read the basis on which the national sports council refuse to register the football federation of Belize - it's because of some undefined democratic principle, issues of political science which they are trying to put in a strait jacket in the context of the law. That's pure nonsense. That's none-sensical. There is no law in Belize we say voting by hand is illegal."

Jules Vasquez
"They are saying its contravening FIFA statutes."

Elson Kaseke
"FIFA statutes do not say federations cannot provide in their constitution that voting can be by hand. There is nothing in the FIFA statutes saying that is contrary to the FIFA statutes. FIFA statutes do not say who is to supervise the elections of football federations."

Ismael "Miley" Garcia, National Sports Administrator
"I have read those regulations, I have read the standard electoral code and its clearly says that there must be an electoral commission that decides on who qualifies for an election - who runs an election. The FIFA statutes itself doesn't have it but there is another regulation. If you look at the statutes of the FFB, I think it article 35 - it says that they are bound to uphold the statutes and regulations and bylaws of FIFA. When you look at article 254 in their constitution it is clearly in contravention of what is shown in the regulation for the standard electoral code."

Jules Vasquez
"How do you feel about the letter that the sports council sends you saying that your statutes are not in line with FIFA statutes?"

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"It's a big laugh."

Jules Vasquez
"But the specifics of it say that an independent electoral commission should preside over elections."

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"I don't where that comes from really."

Jules Vasquez
"You are not familiar with that."

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"No."

Jules Vasquez
"But it may be in the FIFA statutes."

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"I don't know where it is. You may have to show me. But all I have to do is laugh. You waste government doing things that shouldn't be done and so that's all I could say. It's a joke."

Isani Cayetano, Reporter
"You also mention that the FFB did not get a chance in terms of a hearing before being decertified. Can you expand on that as well?"

Elson Kaseke
"Look I have been at praise to say that the FFB is one of many federations, many of whom are running and registered up to now. Many of whom enjoy the sporting facilities of the national sports council. Why single out one when everyone is supposed to be equal."

Ismael "Miley" Garcia, National Sports Administrator
"The letter that was sent to the FFB is the same letter that was sent to all the associations that have not qualify for registrations by the national sports council and none of these are enjoying the use of facilities of the national sports council so I saw that allegation being thrown around in the court there and of course our attorneys chose not to respond to that because that was not the substantive matter before the court - it was a matter for an injunction but clearly when we talk about facilities, concessions, exemptions there are for example limited resources that the Ministry of Sports would give to various associations. What it means is that those other federations or associations that were given the same letter that was given to the FFB do not qualify for these things. But there are no facilities that NSC controls that are being used by any of these associations that they are referring to - none."

Jules Vasquez
"How would you respond to the allegation that the FFB was suspended without a hearing?"

Ismael "Miley" Garcia, National Sports Administrator
"That is the most preponderance of all. If you are getting correspondence from the 26th of August 2010 and we are now talking the final deadline was given or 14th April and you have all these letters of March 8, March 31 or even after march 31 you get another letter or April14th - you are being given all of these letters and warnings and you are being encourage to come in and register. They are moving the goal post deliberately for you o come in and bring in your statutes and then you don't bring them."

Elson Kaseke
"Jules, you know that there are several matches which are played under the FFB. Under 14, under 15, under 16, senior teams and so - women's football and so. So I think basically un-sensical for the representatives of the national sports and the minister to come and say that there is one football field in Belmopan or that the FIFA football is being played in Honduras. What happens to those other games? The agency remains - it is pressing and anyone with eyes can see that there is a disruption in the fixtures."

Regarding the use of facilities, the Sports Council's position is that in fact football continues to be played - as recently as Sunday there were super league games played in Placencia and Toledo. The BPFL has removed itself from under the FFB - so there is no sanction against them.

Justice Hafiz has reserved judgment.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize