Right now, the football community continues to wait for FIFA and CONCACAF to return a written verdict on whether or not Ruperto Vicente, the President of the Football Federation of Belize, is suspended.
As we told you, there's been a very private fight happening within the FFB's Executive Committee, who say that Vicente's leadership of local football has not been in the best interest of the sport. More significant than that harsh criticism is the open accusation that his leadership direction is similar to his predecessor, Dr. Bertie Chimilio, who was voted out of office after battling scandals of his own of allegedly fixing the District Association Elections. The accusation is that since Vicente has been manipulating the District Association, he's been positioning his sympathizers to win at that level, so that he could ensure his re election goes off without a hitch.
Vicente, in response to the pressure from his Executive, have responded that these members have not contributed to the development of football as they should have as elected members over the last 4 years. He has also countered with his own accusation that his executive members, Sergio Chuc, Cruz Gamez, and Marlon Kuylen, have been trying to drag his name in the mud so that they can make a play for the presidency, a post he hopes to be re-elected to in the next few weeks.
But, in the meantime, Vicente has to continue his duties as President of the FFB while his current term runs its course. Today, he flew out of the country to attend the elections for FIFA and CONCACAF in Zurich Switzerland. Now, as viewers remember, the biggest corruption scandal in the Football World erupted last year, under the leadership of FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter, who was only just re-elected. As viewers remember, Blatter made the sensational move to step down last year, and so, an Extraordinary Congress has been called for February 26 to elect his replacement. We caught up with Vicente at the Airport today:
Reporter
"You trip today is for Switzerland for that election?"
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"Yes, it's for both elections. We will have an election for CONCACAF president as well as FIFA's presidency."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is Belize, under your leadership still supporting Joseph Sepp Blatter for president?"
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"No. In Central America we vote as a block. We look at what is most important for Central America. And as well, since we will be having a meeting tomorrow, we will be looking at what is best for CONCACAF. But Central America block as decided on who we should be supporting, but that is going to be confirmed tomorrow."
Daniel Ortiz
"The last time we asked you this question, you did tell us that Belize specifically would support Mr. Blatter. Has that changed?"
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"We supported president Blatter based on his agenda and his agenda suited Belize's agenda, because we are a developing nation, we are developing in football and his agenda was to develop football in all countries that are not developed."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is it a concern of yours that right now Mr. Blatter have not been accused of any wrong doing, but despite that, the biggest corruption scandal has taken place under his leadership? Is worrying for you that the taint of that will come to Belize specifically where you are embattled at this current moment?"
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"It is clear and I have said before that Central America has decided on who to vote for. That decision is not on President Blatter."
So, while the rest of the football world tries to get past that scandal in FIFA, here at home, Vicente's embattled presidency is only just coming into public focus.
This internal feuding has been exposed only a few weeks before FFB elections, but what appears to be a brewing problem, is actually a release in pressure building up from since 2012 when this new executive was elected to office. The President spoke frankly with the press for probably the first time about the internal problems he's been having with his executives:
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"Remember that all of us did not come from the same team. There were 3 slates that went up for elections; Dr. Chimilio's slate, my slate and and Mr. Gerald Henry slate. We came from different slates. So from the very first executive meeting, there was disagreement. And so it is important for us to understand that. From then forward it was always disagreements. There was never a team that took over the federation and now we are asking the delegates that we elect an executive that is made up of one team. If I loses, then my team must lose. If that person who is running for president loses, then his team must lose. It is not healthy to have a divided executive. Because there is hardly anything that can be achieved. We could not change policies because of the rift. A lot of the success that is experience by this federation it is as a result of me taking decisions and also going to the congress members and seek their support to make those decisions. Mr. Cruz Gamez and Mr. Kuylen came from Mr. Gerald Henry's slate. Mr. Chuc came from my slate, but it is clear that Mr. Chuc was only on my slate to get a position and not to be on my team. Simple as that."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is this rift beyond any repair at this current moment between you and your executive team?"
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"No. I would not say that. The 3 gentlemen are still members of the executive and I still have to work along with them. I am not a person who hold grudges and I have proven that before. There have been people who have spoken against me and I welcomed them back into the federation."
A big accusation against Vicente is that he has been using his influence as President to rig the District Elections so that he can become re-elected. The suggestion is that the District Committees are suppressing the information about the date of the elections, so that persons who want to offer themselves are unable to sign up. That then forces a situation where endorsements have to be taken, and the incumbents supposedly benefit from that since they are the ones who know when the elections are supposed to happen.
So, we asked the President why not publicize everything so that no one can accuse him directly. Here's how that conversation went:
Daniel Ortiz
"Why is it not a decision taken to just publicize all the districts election so that there is no confusion and no one can accused the federation or its current chairman of trying to suppress information to slant it in their favor?"
Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"This is where the electoral code is flaud. And we at executive have agreed that needs to be changed. And so the electoral committee have also cited that and they are going to be making recommendations for those things to be changed. It is not fair for anybody who wants to run for election to go to the incumbent to get those forms or the member of the association to go for those forms and give them to individual who wants to run. So the electoral committee has cited that and we are going to make recommendations. We are not going to end our job here after elections. We are going to continue working and change and ensure that the electoral code for the federation is one that lends transparency, one that lends fairness to everybody."
We still have a bit more from that interview with the president which we'll share with you tomorrow.
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