Trinidad and Tobago still will not pay bonuses, predicts Jack

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

September 3 – Trinidad and Tobago’s football officials, including FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, will refuse to accept a court judgement that they must pay the country’s 2006 World Cup squad multi-million dollar bonuses they were promised, goalkeeper Kelvin Jack has predicted.

Acting Justice Devindra Rampersad last month ordered the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), whose special adviser is Warner, to pay the bonuses and admonished them for time-wasting, running up a legal bill of more than T$3 million (£310,000) that they will also have to pay.

The proceedings were filed in November 2008 by 16 players, including Jack, who demanded that the High Court in Port-of-Spain enforce the judgement of the London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP).

But Jack, the former Dundee and Gillingham goalkeeper who is now playing for Blue Square Bet Premier Darlington, is not hopeful of ever receiving any money as a result of the decision.

“Let’s be honest Mr Jack Warner and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation have been found to be completely guilty by arbitration in London, and the courts in Trinidad and Tobago as well,” Jack told the website, Socawarriors.net.

“We do not think this court battle is over.

“I expect that Jack Warner and the TTFF will do everything in their power to disregard their contract with us.

“Our legal team are working very hard to cover every possible base.”

Jack, who earned 33 caps for Trinidad and Tobago, is pessimistic about the future of football in his home country.

“Our football needs a total overhaul,” he said.

“It is too amateur and disorganised.

“For example, Costa Rica, Canada and Jamaica played proper friendly games before the World Cup.

“Who did we play?

“I think we played Antigua or some other Caribbean side.

“We are miles behind and we all know where the blame lies.”

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