By Paul Nicholson
January 31 – U.S. Virgin Islands FA president Hillaren Frederick is fighting for survival as head of his federation after rejecting a suspension by his own executive committee, saying that they did not have the authority to suspend him. A delegation from FIFA and CONCACAF is expected in the islands this week to investigate the situation.
Frederick, who stood for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) presidency last year but withdrew before the vote was taken, is in his second four year term as head of the USVI federation.
He is accused of “financial mismanagement,” including that the USVISF “is highly indebted” and has an “unclear association budget” and “debts with several companies and employees,” according to a letter seen by local U.S. Virgin Islands publication The Daily News. That letter has been sent to FIFA by the four executive committee members who tried to suspend Frederick.
The letter also states that Frederick was negligent in accountability to the committee, citing “no transparency,” “no accountability to the EXCO”, “no bank record of how the money has been used,” and “no salary transparency of the EXCO members.”
Frederick’s response was to issue a press release saying that the Executive Committee’s actions were “just a mere smoke screen” and “have no legal standing and has no merit based on the USVI Soccer Association statutes.”
In response the USVISF’s Disciplinary Committee – reportedly handpicked by Frederick – issued suspensions to the four rebel expo members: Carlton Freeman and Ferdinand Francis, were given five-year suspensions, Marcella Jennings was issued with a three-year suspension and a severe reprimand and a two-year suspended sentence was handed to Theodore Jones.
The authority of that decision is also being challenged.
Frederick has also moved to fire the USVISF’s technical director and head coach of the U.S. Virgin Islands men’s national team Ahmed Mohamed. Mohamed is believed to have several months of outstanding wages. Frederick in his letter of termination to Mohamed accused him of “blatant insubordination and aiding and abetting the violations of the USVI Soccer Association Statutes.”
Ultimately Frederick’s future looks likely to hinge on how the USVI’s money has been spent and the accounts managed. Frederick controls the accounts and the budget spending.
FIFA has yet to pay many (if not all) Caribbean federations their $500,000 grant money due to them on January 1. That may solve the USVISF’s indebtedness. It may not save Frederick.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734876594labto1734876594ofdlr1734876594owedi1734876594sni@n1734876594osloh1734876594cin.l1734876594uap1734876594