7 News Belize

GOB Will Support The National Football Team
posted (August 12, 2011)
Belize's national Football Team will play in the upcoming world cup qualifiers and the team will do so with the full blessing and support of the government of Belize.

That's news tonight because FIFA had given FFB and the National Sports Council until August 15th to patch up things or face a suspension - which would mean forfeiting the world cup qualifiers.

But that won't happen because yesterday there was actually a meeting between the FFB President and the Minister of Sports where they hammered out a memorandum of understanding.

Viewers will recall that on August second, FIFA Representatives had delivered a letter to the FFB directing them to have new transparent elections and approve a new constitution.

But it didn't end there - the Sports Council wanted to make sure elections at the district level were also transparent.

That sticking point pushed things right up to the deadline which was last night at midnight, or the start of Friday's business at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.

That five point memorandum was signed this morning and, among other things, it outlines the requirements for the electoral commission which will oversee the new elections.

And it also temporarily lifts the ban on FFB's use of Sports council facilities, saying that "during the period leading up to the December 10, deadline for elections, the FFB and its affiliates will have full access to the facilities of the National Sports Council."

It was signed today by the Director of the Sports Council Patrick Henry and the President of the FFB Dr. Bertie Chimilio.

And while that is one breakthrough - the other - more important for football fans and regular citizens is that The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Sports has given its commitment to FIFA to allow the Belize Selection to participate in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers Brazil 2014.

Minister of Sports, John Saldivar committed to that in an August 11th letter to FIFA President, Sepp Blatter.

And so there is now a détente between the sporting and football powers - after months of public and administrative disputes. Now, we expect to see both sides jostling for the upper hand in the upcoming elections.

In the meantime, Belize's national team is scheduled to play the first game of the second round on September second against Grenada.

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7 News Belize