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Bin Hammam’s Life Ban by FIFA, a Lesson for Guyana’s Football

Dec 24, 2012 Sports

Dear Sir,
While sports are no longer sport, but rather serious business, whereas sponsors and financiers doles out untold sums, in pursuit of enhancing a specific brand of its choice, resulting in increased sales, its credit ability and public ratings also increases towards contributing to total development of the sport.  At this juncture the sponsor seizes the opportunity to establish a long lasting relationship with the sport’s administrators, as a sound long term investment, ahead of any potential rival gaining a foothold.
Editor, is this the unfolding scenario between the Kashif & Shanghai Organization and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), in two separate year end football competitions? Since from the inception of the Annual K & S Competition, now in its 23rd year, Banks DIH had been a major sponsor. This position however had changed two years ago, when the nation’s largest beverage producer and the K&S Organization parted their relationship, with an equitable replacement in Ansa McAl coming on board.
From all indications Banks DIH was hurt, a similar position of that took place with Entertainment Group Hits & Jams. So, in actually getting even with organizers is foremost within the minds of the beverage giants, even if it means breaking the rules that governs the sport.
Readily coming to mind is the participation of teams from East Coast and Upper Demerara, which is likely to result in sanctions by the GFF.  And authorities at the nation’s leading beverage producer can’t claim ignorance of the fact, since its PRO, is actually involved in football.  Editor, the mere idea that Banks DIH, through its Banks Beer brand remains committed to sponsorship, rivaling the Annual K &S yearend tournament, then, they can be compared to the former FIFA Vice President, also former President of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohammed Bin Hammam, who was banned for life by FIFA.
This was as a result of his role as the principal financier, in the “cash for votes scandal” that resulted in suspensions being handed down to various Caribbean officials, including the GFF’s President, Mr. Colin Klass.
Anyhow, in this present circumstance absolutely nothing will befall the competition’s sponsor, but rather clubs and definitely one GFA executive, who years ago while serving as President, was adamant that clubs participating in the K & S Tournament demand appearance fees. So, why now in the Banks Tournament is 30% of the net gate receipts to be divided among clubs?
Years ago, the image of Banks DIH would have been hurt if the city sides had pulled out. Nevertheless it’s still being hurt? Or let bygones be bygones, despite the fact that the same official had presided over an executive who couldn’t have accounted for $500,000 in a Banks DIH Competition, and the entire body had received a vote of no confidence.
The more things change the more they remain the same, especially in a marriage of convenience, since GDF, Police and UG as institutions would have as in the past withdrawn their participation in any competition under the auspices of the GFA, until its issue with the GFF would have been fully resolved. But current executives were embraced by the GFF, so they shouldn’t dive in the box and claim a penalty, when no foul was committed.
Leslie Campbell
Former Club Official

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