By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
January 11 – A bitter 18-month dispute that polarised the game in the Caribbean state of Guyana has been resolved after the intervention of FIFA and Concacaf.
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the local Georgetown Football Association (GFA) have agreed to bury their differences and accept recommendations that followed extensive talks.
As a result, the GFA has agreed to withdraw court action against the national federation which, in turn, will recognise it as a full member and reinstate its voting rights.
“We have met with all parties involved to give them the opportunity to engage and participate in the resolution of these matters,” said Concacaf president Jeffrey Webb. “We trust we will set a clear roadmap to restore the integrity of the game among all the GFF Member Associations.”
The constitutional dispute between the warring factions had paralysed the game and split opinion in Guyana, an indication of the lack of unity that still exists in parts of the Caribbean region and which Webb is doing his best to tackle since being elected President of Concacaf in succession to Jack Warner who resigned from all football activities in the wake of the 2011 FIFA presidential election cash-for-votes allegations.
“We are hopeful to see a unified football fraternity in Guyana,” said FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development Thierry Regenass. “We should move forward past matters and build for the future development and growth of the game in the country.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734781004labto1734781004ofdlr1734781004owedi1734781004sni@w1734781004ahsra1734781004w.wer1734781004dna1734781004