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#408286 05/20/11 08:44 AM
Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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[Linked Image] The Football Federation of Belize and the National Sports Council remain locked in a standoff. According to Sports Minister John Saldivar, the FFB has not turned in to the sports council its audited financials or minutes of its last general meeting - which the sports council says are required by law.
And now, according to today's Guardian, there may be a move afoot to try and supplant the mighty FFB with a new football federation. That is after the Commissioner of the Belize Premier Football League last week sent a letter to UNCAF, the regional governing body saying that his league has withdrawn its membership from the FFB. The Guardian further reports that pro tem football committees form six districts have sent letters to the Sports Council expressing concerns about how football is run in their respective districts.

Those may be the seeds of a new Federation, but this one still has some time to go. The Sports Council has extended the deadline for FFB compliance to June first.

Channel 7

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Marty Offline OP
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Imagine There's NO FFB?

Imagine there's no�FFB? Could it be? The mighty Football Federation of Belize, de-registered by the sports council? That body had until June first to submit details of its last general meeting and its financials to the Sports Council and it failed to do so.

So what does it mean? That's what we asked the Sports Minister yesterday:..

Jules Vasquez
"They fail to meet the deadline for meeting all the requirements and registration. What is the status of the FFB today June 2?"

Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Public Service
"Well they have not registered. They have fail to register and I believe the National Sports Council is now in the process of deciding how to move forward whether this will be communicated to them and to FIFA, But as of the 1st of June we have given them enough time to comply. They have not complied and so I believe the position is that we do not have an officially recognize national body for football."

We'll wait and see what's next�

Channel 7


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Marty Offline OP
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FIFA Threatens To Suspend Belize

The Naitonal Sports Council has de-certified the Football Federation of Belize and the Government of Belize has written to FIFA advising them of such.

Now, FIFA is strict in its enforcement of the policy that governments are not to meddle in the affairs of National Federations - and when this happens, FIFA usually suspends the country's Football Federation. When that happens the country cannot be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, and there are also bans at club levels including international friendly matches.

It is a serious measure, and tonight the news is that FIFA today wrote to the Minister of Sports John Saldivar reminding him that by meddling with the FFB, Belize is risking suspension. Well, the Minister wrote back saying he knows that full well.

Saldivar told us more in an interview this afternoon in Belmopan:�

Hon. John Saldivar
"I receive today Jules a response from the Secretary General of FIFA acknowledging the receipt of a letter that we sent to them informing them that the FFA have been decertified as it were. Their response of course is to remind us that this is an infringement of FIFA's statutes and there are consequences for such interference by government. However the letter does end offering a dialogue for discussing and so I am hoping that that can take place. In response of course I've written to the president again thanking him for his prompt response but also reminding him that the government of Belize has an obligation to uphold the laws of Belize and urging him to convince the FFB to comply and also then opening the way hopefully for more dialogue between FIFA/FFB and the government of Belize."

Jules Vasquez
"Have they advise the government of Belize that a suspension is imminent?"

Hon. John Saldivar
"Well the letter pretty much made reference to the statutes - I think statutes 15, that allows for that possibility of suspension yes."

Jules Vasquez
"Is that something that the government wishes not to happen or has it embark on this course knowing fully well that may indeed be as it turns out be an inevitability?"

Hon. John Saldivar
"No we wish it would not happen. We are hoping that it won't come to that and we had hope it wouldn't reach this point any at all and all that it would have required was for the FFB to comply with the laws of Belize. We don't want it reach that stage but certainly in defense of the laws of Belize and certainly in defense of the sovereignty of our country we need to make FIFA and FFB understand our position."

Jules Vasquez
"So what happens next as regards national selection? They will play on Wednesday 15 where they are schedule to play in Trinidad. Team Belize against Montserrat."

Hon. John Saldivar
"Well we already inform FIFA that the FFB is not authorized to represent our country. So whatever selection they have put together cannot play as the national selection of Belize. We are yet to see what FIFA's response is going to be but my understanding from persons who have contacted officials in its affiliated organizations that once the government says that you are not authorize to represent - that's the end of the story unless something else changes."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir I know that things are at a standoff right now but are you concern that with these two upcoming international games the road to Brazil as the FFB has call it - are you concern that in fact you are injuring the progress of football in this country?"

Hon. John Saldivar
"Well it's unfortunate like I said Jules that we've had to reach this point but it's also unfortunate that the players have to get caught up in the middle of something that could have very well easily be avoided."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it your feeling that on Wednesday no matter what there will still be a Belize team playing in Trinidad - Team Belize against Montserrat?"

Hon. John Saldivar
"I don't expect that that will be the case but like I said we don't control FIFA and so we wait to see what they will do but from the standpoint of the government of Belize no team is authorize at this time to represent the people and government of Belize in football."

Though US visas have reportedly been denied to members of the national team, The FFB has given every indication that it intends to proceed to Trinidad to play a world cup preliminary qualifier against Montserrat as the Belizean National Selection.

Channel 7


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FIFA warns Belize over government interference

ZURICH: Belize has been warned by FIFA that it could face sanctions over government interference in the country's football federation as the national team prepare for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup qualifying competition. The Central Americans take on Montserrat in Malabar, Trinidad on Wednesday in a CONCACAF zone preliminary round first-leg tie with the return match at home on Sunday. Even if they win, Belize could be suspended at the end of the month after the country's government said it did not recognise the local soccer federation (FFB) or national team. "FIFA is monitoring the situation regarding the Belize Football Federation very closely," soccer's world governing body told Reuters by email on Tuesday. "If the current situation of apparent governmental interference is not resolved by 30 June 2011, it will be referred to the FIFA emergency committee for evaluation and potential sanctions."

It is the latest controversy involving the North, Central America and Caribbean region after the provisional suspension of CONCACAF president Jack Warner by FIFA over bribery allegations and the subsequent removal of acting president Lisle Austin for an "apparent infringement" of CONCACAF statutes. The Belize government said the FFB had failed to meet the requirements for registration with the National Sports Council. John Saldivar, Minister of Sports, said last week the government had been in contact with the world governing body.

Reuters

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Belize warned on eve of World Cup qualifier

FIFA have warned Belize they could face sanctions over government interference in the Central American country's football federation.

As the nation's football team prepare for Wednesday's opening qualifying game for the 2014 World Cup against Montserrat, FIFA have told Reuters they are monitoring the situation in Belize very closely.

"If the current situation of apparent governmental interference is not resolved by June 30, it will be referred to the FIFA emergency committee for evaluation and potential sanctions," a FIFA email said.

The incident is the latest scandal to hit American soccer, after FIFA's suspension of CONCACAF president Jack Warner over bribery allegations in the lead-up to the June 1 FIFA presidential election.

The acting president, Lisle Austin, was then removed from his post for an infringement of a CONCACAF statute.

The Belize government believes their football federation (FFB) failed to register with the country's National Sports Council, and Belize sports minister John Saldivar said the government had been in contact with FIFA.

"I've written to the president (Sepp Blatter) reminding him that the government of Belize has an obligation to uphold the laws of Belize and urging him to convince the FFB to comply," he told Belize's Channel Seven.

"We have already informed FIFA that the FFB is not authorised to represent our country. So whatever selection they have put together cannot play as the national selection of Belize."

Soccerway.com



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