FIFA Is No MAFIA Organization

May 12, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is with great displeasure I pen yet another letter to a faceless and nameless author of a missive in the Kaieteur News 9th April, 2014, titled “FIFA the Mafia Organization once again in Operation in Guyana”
I again commend Kaieteur and its editor for being accommodating with the selection of letters to provide the opportunity for some writers to hide behind the cloth of anonymity, so that the identity of their misguided expressions and rants, would remain in the shadows of the unknown.
The ghost writer of this piece, from the onset, indicated his sole intent for writing was to educate the readership and particularly the sporting public. Mr Editor, I am still waiting for my edification.
He posited that it was deliberate that the same persons who came to Guyana a year ago “stole the elections” by many breaches of the GFF constitution. Was he referring to the brilliant legal minds of FIFA representatives? Lies, lies and more lies, what were they? Wouldn’t it have been best for our edification, for us to know of these lies, editor?
He continued “I have never heard in the history of Guyana and the World that any interim bodies having voting rights”. Is the writer referring to the history of football related matters or all matters that require a vote? I dare say he has to be more specific to what he refers, for his ignorance of not knowing cannot substantiate his weak and baseless argument.
The word “precedence” should have been suggested by his learned and very good lawyer friend. For our edification it is an act, decision or incident that may be used as an example, guide or justification in dealing with subsequent similar instances. A legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases. If it was alright for interims to vote on the very GFF constitution for its use in 2010 then precedent was set for same in 2014.
The author candidly told this nation that the President, Mr. Matthias being assisted by “FIFA” lied to the populace and he must go. He, Mr editor like the very no-confidence motion, failed to provide these facts,evidences and truths. He posits Its not “personal” but that’s very pellucid.
The writer’s unintelligent rant in saying “you are not the president of the GFF legally or anywise, Ivan Persaud VP must take over now and move the process forward, is the most unfortunate doggerel, jejune and idiotic remark one can make.
Firstly Mr editor, what makes the man’s Presidency illegal? Secondly, wasn’t Mr Persaud elected post as VP  resulted from that very election the President was apart of?
To even suggest Mr Persaud, GOD forbid, as a replacement is incredulous. This individual isn’t concern about Guyana’s football, why would a VP in charge of tactical and technical development , in charge of the technical director, coaches and to guide programs to develop the sport opted to relinquish his more influential post by applying to be technical director? Is this a man suited for the Presidency? Isn’t this individual undecided with what he wants? Was his decision to apply for the T.D post a result of the attractive salary it carries compared to the present stipend he gets? This supposedly best replacement has been more present to uplift his undeserving stipend than at executive meetings, this is  not a man with Guyana’s football future at heart.
Mr editor, the author’s derogatory and defamatory adjective use to describe the world governing body of the world’s most loved and popular sport  as “Mafia FIFA, is extremely disappointing and it completely strays away from his attempt to educate the readership.
Sir, Mafia is a type of organized crime syndicate that primarily practices protection racketeering, the use of violent intimidation to manipulate local economic activity, especially illicit trade; secondary activities may be practiced such as drug-trafficking, loan sharking and fraud. Being bonded together by a code of honour. These features Mr editor, does not in any way embodies the objectives and principles of FIFA and what it stands for. An organization that is respected and loved by the world and history can attest to this.
Finally Mr editor, the only thing in this very uneducational missive I humbly accept, is the conflict of interest alluded to.
The football association of any country which joins FIFA is mandated to be “free of government interference”. The reasoning seems to be that football is private sector driven and should not be tied to the apron strings of any government. The membership of FIFA is actually through or by an association which is responsible for organizing and supervising football in its country. It is not the country per se, that is a member of FIFA as would obtain in organizations like UNO, OAU, etc.
Therefore, it should be stated that the direct and blatant attempt to “hijack our sport” as stated by the author of that missive by the P.S of the Ministry of youth sports and Culture Mr. Alfred King and Presidential advisor and P.M Lumumba, to be intimately involved in the GFF’s business, should be one in which prudence and good sense prevail. These learned and goodly gentlemen with their ambitions and good intentions for Guyana’s football are not independent or separate from government by virtue of their portfolio and close proximity to the hierarchy to the ruling administration. Editor, wouldn’t their involvement be construed as government interference? Isn’t this or could it not be a blatant offense and clear breach of FIFA statutes, which may lead to sanctions prescribed under article 14 of FIFA statutes?
Editor, the point is simple, football like other professional sports all over the world is a private enterprise. The stakeholders of the game ought to be left to organize and operate as they so wish, with the government providing and enabling environment.  There is no need for government or its representative to politicize or be intimately involved in governing any sport body especially the world most loved sport, football. Their role should be to provide potent advice which may or may not be accepted, along with resources and facilities to aid the development of its people and the game.
For our edification, change has come to Guyana’s football, thanks to Matthias and his conscious support.
Some fail to realize that slow progress is progress and that the obstacles to faster progress, is the behind the scenes undermining and scheming of the past and some present actors.
Jermaine Figueira

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