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GFF refutes misinformation being peddled by Stabroek Sports
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is refuting the misleading story that was carried in the Sports pages of the Stabroek News (6-11-19) under the headline, “Hush-hush GFF Congress scheduled for Saturday – Forde slate set to return minus O’Jeer.”
In a release the GFF stated, ‘While not surprised by this article, which was obviously penned to misinform the readership and public, the GFF continues to be concerned, to say the least, with the continued lack of professionalism being displayed by this media outlet.’
The GFF would like to state categorically that the GFF Extraordinary Congress has been convened in accordance with the GFF Constitution and with oversight of FIFA and Concacaf.
The notification of Congress, nomination of slates and preparation for the Election of the
Executive Committee is being conducted in accordance with the GFF Constitution, the GFF Electoral Code and with the oversight of the GFF Electoral Committee.
Further, the GFF circulated a Press Release on 29-10-2019, which was carried by all media houses, including Stabroek News. We reiterate that we find the Stabroek News Article of Wednesday November 6, 2019 to be disingenuous and a flagrant attempt to mislead the public.
This administration has been very steadfast in sedulously adhering to our Constitution at all times.
A letter from our General Secretary (ag), in accordance with Article 30.5 of the Constitution of the Guyana Football Federation Inc., was sent to all our Honorary Members of the Regional Member Associations, Member Affiliates, Member Clubs, Executive Committee, and Electoral Committee on 10-12-2019, notifying them of the Extra Ordinary Congress.
It is therefore surprising that, according to the news article, just a single member would claim not to have received any information regarding the Extra Ordinary Congress. The mechanism that we have in place regarding communication among the membership is well established and a simple check with the office to ascertain why the notification was not received would have revealed that it was sent; the records will substantiate this.
It does not serve any purpose for the GFF to notify just a few members on any issue; this is just not part of our institutional DNA. All relevant information on any matter that involves all our members are sent to them and, again, the records will support this.
Publication of such an erroneous article therefore begs the question why would Stabroek News do so? The Executive Committee of the GFF has had to write the management of Stabroek News on numerous occasions to point out the deliberate pattern of negative, selective and/or biased coverage of the GFF by that news entity. We are bewildered that a credible newspaper such as Stabroek News would allow the prejudices and biases of one of its reporters, whose business interests in football conflict with GFF policy and has resulted in the level of animus he has towards the Federation, to influence their editorial policy towards the GFF.
In seeking to give colour to the article, the reporter adduced a comment from the Director of Sport. It is passing strange the Director of Sport would want to weigh in on this issue. He has admitted that the NSC is not required to be informed by an association whenever it’s having elections. So why then would he intone that the GFF is being discourteous to the NSC by not informing that body. Has such a sentiment been expressed to any other sporting association before? The Director needs to be mindful it would be difficult to scotch the perception that, by being used as a vassal of the reporter, he is allowing his slips to show.
The GFF would like to assure its members and the larger football fraternity that we will continue to adhere to our Constitution and that this core principle would never be compromised.
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