By Paul Nicholson
January 24 – Talks of a Caribbean breakaway from regional confederation CONCACAF are premature, and there has been no recommendation tabled for a split, said the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in response to Insideworldfootball’s story on discussion allegedly held at a CFU executive committee meeting at the weekend.
In a statement to Insideworldfootball, the CFU has moved swiftly to say that:
- talks of a breakaway from CONCACAF are at a very preliminary stage
- no proposals or recommendations for a breakaway have been tabled
- there has been no formal feasibility study analysing the implications of a breakaway
- no discussion of a breakaway has been held with FIFA at this stage
- the CFU and its members are committed to working with CONCACAF for the promotion and development of Caribbean football
- the CFU is committed to working with CONCACAF and FIFA for realisation of the grant money promised by both organisations both for competition, development and administrative organisation in the region
- the CFU members and their national representatives are committed to FIFA as evidenced by their participation on FIFA committees
- the CFU executive committee has not taken any form of vote or expressed any form of preference towards a breakaway
- no proposal for a breakaway would be actioned without a full consultation and discussion with the full CFU membership
- the CFU notes the conversation on Twitter of potential World Cup places but emphasises this discussion is premature
- the CFU is disappointed that private committee discussion was leaked to the press
CFU president Gordon Derrick told Insideworldfootball: “We are not denying that a conversation took place but it must be kept in perspective as it is far too premature. I am disappointed that someone chose to leak this to the press as until formally minuted and approved this conversation should have remained private unless otherwise agreed. We see these leaks all the time at FIFA but within the CFU have always managed to maintain a solidarity within our membership in this regard. It makes it hard to manage the CFU effectively and for its own progression when these leaks threaten balanced conversation.”
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