For months, we've been telling you about the battle between the Football Federation of Belize, The National Sports Council and the Ministry of Sports. Well tonight it is just about settled - all in the Ministry's and the Sports Council's favour - and all against FFB President Dr. Bertie Chimilio and his entrenched executive.
Their Football Federation of Belize has received a sharp, stunning come-uppance from FIFA that's so severe, it can't even be called a slap in the face; it's more like a kick in the rear end.
Forgive the crude analogy, but it's that rough.
The announcement comes out of a meeting held this afternoon at the Ministry of Sports in Belmopan. 7news was there for the start of the meeting at 3:00 pm when President of UNCAF Rafael Tinoco arrived accompanied by Senior Vice President of the FFB Bernaldino Pech. Tinoco declined comment before the meeting, telling us we would be informed of the proceedings by FIFA sometime later.
He went into the meeting at 3:00 and it was finished an hour later. To find out what happened, we spoke to the sports minister John Saldivar half an hour ago. He gave us the details of the monumental letter that FIFA has delivered to the FFB directing them to hold new elections - both at the branch and executive levels - under a new constitution:
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Sports
"Mandating that a new constitution be drafted along the lines of the FIFA approved statutes and that a electoral code be drafted along the lines the FIFA approved code. They have mandated to the FFB that if electoral commission or electoral committee be elected from the FFB to conduct elections for the FFB. It has also been mandated by FIFA that the FFB hold an extraordinary congress by September to approve the new statutes and to approve the new electoral code and to elect an electoral committee that will oversee the new elections for the FFB."
"FIFA has also mandated to the FFB that they organize elections at the branch level or at the members level in the districts. Then after conducting those elections organize by the 10 December 2011, new elections for the executive of the FFB. FIFA has also requested government that if such a process be undertaken that government commit to allow the FFB to carry out its duties on impeded during this process that is until the December 2011 election has been carried out."
Jules Vasquez
"Has the government agreed to that?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Sports
"The government in principle is in agreement with what FIFA has recommended however we have indicated to the FIFA representatives that we would like to work out the details of how the members; that is how the district associations are elected before.....once we feel comfortable in how those districts associations are elected then we will be happy to sign on to what FIFA has ordered the FFB to do."
Jules Vasquez
"Now this is a complete vindication for the Ministry of Sports as I am hearing it from you and the sports council in so far as the sports council is the one who has pointed anomalous statutes within the FFB which were not in conformity the sports council claim with FIFA statutes and I remember I ask Dr. Bertie Chimilio, the FFB President about it and he said "it's a big laugh" because they don't know anything about statutes."
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Sports
"At this point Jules for me it's a victory for football in Belize and I would like for us to view it in that manner. All those who are in love with the sport of football will now be able to come together and work for the sport of football in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability. It has never been about Dr. Bertie Chimilio, it has never been about removing anyone. It has always been about ensuring that the stakeholders - the football community, the football family have a say in how their organization is run and FIFA has now agreed..."
Jules Vasquez
"Now are you prepared to continue to work with FFB even if Dr. Bertie Chimilio and much of his present executive is re-elected under this new construct?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Sports
"Absolutely and emphatically."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, does this also mean that going forward the government will now show support because Belize has advance to the next round with 3 other nations in our group - Guatemala included in that and that the government will show moral support, state support and will withdraw the reservations it had about fielding a national team under that particular FFB?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Sports
"Absolutely Jules, once we are able to cross this minor detail that is left to work out with FIFA, the government of Belize and the Ministry of Sports will have no difficulty at all in admitting the FFB back into the sports administration field, in the sports council and recognizing their legitimacy as the body responsible for the administration of football in Belize and will have no difficulty and will urge Belizeans now to support our national selection."
So to clarify, FIFA's position to the FFB is that a new FFB constitution is to be drafted to provide for greater transparency in elections. And then, new elections at the branch and executive level are to be held by 10th. December. Government has agreed in principle but wants the mechanics of the branch elections more clearly defined.
In the meantime, the Belize national team - with full state support - will continue to proceed in the World Cup Qualification Process. The preliminary qualifying draw was held on Saturday in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Belize is in round two of the
North, Central America and the Caribbean Zone Draw,?Group E, comprising Grenada, Guatemala, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Belize.
Play begins in September….
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