By Mark Baber
February 25 – Football Federation of Belize President, Ruperto Vicente, voting in tomorrow’s FIFA election in Zurich, has been suspended according to his Executive Committee, although he claims the suspension is not legal. FIFA and CONCACAF are yet to rule on the matter.
A dispute between Vicente, who was elected FFB President in March 2012, and members of his Executive Committee has blown up over recent days with Vicente accused of disallowing candidates not loyal to him in upcoming district elections scheduled for March 13 and overstepping his authority in the decisions he and his General-Secretary Michael Blease, have been making.
The dispute has gone legal with Vice President Sergio Chuc having called an executive committee meeting in order “to suspend (Vicente) as member and president of FFB.” After some difficulties, the meeting was held with Vicente present and after a compromise could not be found the executive committee members claim Vicente was suspended due to his “ongoing documented history of engaging in and/or permitting improper activities in violation of FFB Statutes 2011,” as well as the “improper manner in which District Association elections have been conducted in violation of numerous rules that govern the FFB and the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
Vicente has refused to accept his suspension, and following the vote held an impromptu meeting of FFB Congress members where it was decided the suspension could be put on hold until a legal interpretation from FIFA and CONCACAF was forthcoming.
Both sides in the dispute have written to CONCACAF and FIFA, but 6 weeks before FFB elections are due, the matter remains unresolved. Whilst the executive committee members would like to see FIFA stepping in to set up a normalisation committee, Vicente, had already set off to cast his vote in the FIFA elections.
Reportedly asked whether he would be voting for (outgoing president) Sepp Blatter (really! – Ed) as he boarded the plane, Vicente replied:
“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 has decided on who we should be supporting, but that is going to be confirmed tomorrow.”
Belize and the Central American regional grouping UNCAF have made a block public commitment to support Gianni Infantino.
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