There is a defiant stare on the GFF

Feb 17, 2018 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

The continued unilateral imposition of will by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has many aficionados and stakeholders questioning whether or not they’ve learnt anything from the disgraced period in FIFA’s history.
It was the arrogance and corruption perpetrated by many top ranking officials within the FIFA Organisation that created a tsunami that led to the downfall of the previously perceived untouchables.
The removal of Sepp Blatter, perhaps the most powerful President in the history of the sport, and many of his emissaries following corruption charges, instigated large scale reform within the Organisation.
The world woke up on May 27, 2015 to witness FIFA officials being escorted out behind sheets at the Baur au Lac hotel in the Swiss capital of Zurich (home of the FIFA Headquarters) in what was termed a shocking development in the sport.
The arrests came a day before the 209 member-associations that constitute FIFA, were to meet to elect the next president, a position that was held by Blatter since 1998.
Blatter’s leadership was plagued in controversy—including allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and highhandedness, but the 79-year-old was still anticipated to retain the top post. However, he eventually ended up resigning in disgrace after 17 years at the helm.
Turning back the attention to the GFF, the sport’s local governing body has failed to understand the importance of dialogue and inclusiveness, and has instead exposed a character of highhandedness and bias.
The Body’s reluctance to meet with all stakeholders of the sport will ultimately do more harm for the game’s development, no matter how much injection of financing the sport receives.
To remain oblivious of the disgruntlement being expressed within the fraternity is simply ‘burying its head in the sand’ and clearly obstructive to the objectives it is trying to meet.
The Federation continues to exude self-importance and guarded security for the office; it appears as though the sport’s holistic development is no longer its priority, but rather its own survival.
Most Presidents come into the office with a lot of hubris and self-importance, believing that they have the answers for the tribulations that affect the sport, only to fall prey to the same practices that lead to corruption and nepotism.
Very often they are aided by General Councils that appear weak and compliant, and whose work to contain the excesses and overreach becomes alternate to their mandate.
The call by President Wayne Forde to the Guyana Police Force to only grant permission to promoters who are given letters of approval by the GFF is a clear example of cavalier governance, since there was no illustration of wrongdoing to support his call.
His urging did not stop there; he attempted to issue his decree to the custodians of facilities that fall under the purview of the Ministry of Sport and the National Sports Commission, but those entities sensibly ignored his plea.
These are unambiguous manifestations of someone who is unwilling to engage, but rather, seeking to demonstrate or reinforce ‘who is boss’.
Guyana’s football landscape is complex and habitually thorny, so it has to be taken in that context, and engagement containing all stakeholders is the only recourse for harmony.
We’ve seen cases of previous administrations – both at the Federation and association levels – struggle to govern, because of instances of preferential treatment afforded to some, but that approach has always had a negative impact on the sport’s development and also tainted its image.
There are myriad problems affecting the sport, but without meaningful commitment to hear from all, the sad reality is that the sport’s advancement will never materialise.
Until non-partisanship posture is seen, then and only then will real development occur.
The community is small and while some may feel that the secret meetings and exclusion of some is the best option, it is just an illusion.
The GFF should set its sights on commencing a probe into the alleged buzz surrounding the conduct of some of its referees and hopefully repair the damage that has been afflicting the Referees’ Council.
It must be one of the Federation’s utmost priorities, failing which, it will ultimately be failing many of the young female aspirants in the sport.
When the talk of the town is centred on the alleged misconduct of referees (responsible for one of the most important aspects of the sport), then there must be some level of urgency to investigate the veracity of such allegations.
Some of these game managers believe they have a sense of entitlement; they pose as though they are incorruptible, but are anything else, while their conduct has been nothing short of despicable.
The conduct of some is the sole reason why the Council has not been attracting female referees – because of the constant sexual harassment, threats of not being assigned duties, and other sorts of persecution.
Where is the “Me Too” movement, the GFF will be better served investigating with the intent of punishing those found culpable of such accusations, instead of pretending that they do not exist.
Ask many of the female aspirants why they are no longer attracted to the Council, it may serve the Federation’s best interest to open a probe and expose its findings before someone else does.
There seem to be many Harry Weinsteins in the sport and it is time that the powers that be have a laser focus on the institutions and personnel that could bring the beautiful game into disrepute, and not target certain innocent stakeholders.
It may be pertinent to remind the top football officials that there is a defiant stare on them to act, since corruption is not only about financial culpability, but other forms of indecency as well.
Just remember, in every institution not everyone is inclined to flout the law, so they either become whistleblowers or simply resign.

Yours sincerely,
Rawle Welch

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