Matthias assertively dismisses Solomon’s charges of constitutional violations

Jan 28, 2014 Sports

Needing to respond to the accusations of constitutional violations leveled against the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Congress which handed down severe punishments to President of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) President Sharma Solomon and members of his executive, President of the GFF Christopher Matthias assertively dismissed the charges as false.
Matthias was speaking to a media gathering at the Federation’s Head

President of the GFF Christopher Matthias (second right) sits with new TD Mark Rodrigues (second left), Vice President Ivan Persaud (left) and Committee member Keith O’Jeer at yesterday’s briefing.

Office where he gave a chronological account of what transpired during the period leading up to the UDFA’s transgression of playing its GT Beer Yearend Tournament despite being warned by the Federation of the likely consequences of not adhering to the ruling of the General Congress which had deliberated and decided that only one tournament should be played on January 1 and that was supposed to be the Georgetown Football Association Banks Beer final.
According to Matthias, who was accompanied by Vice-President Ivan Persaud, new Technical Director Mark Rodrigues and Committee Member Keith O’Jeer, Solomon and the UDFA defied the ruling made by the Congress and went ahead and played the final even though correspondences flew back and forth, clearly articulating the position of the GFF and its Congress.
The GFF Head reminded all present that the Congress is the supreme Legislative Authority and no member has the right to challenge its directive, while the GFF’s role is to regulate, control, develop and improve football in Guyana.
He added that in accordance with the GFF constitution, it is the President’s responsibility to ensure that the decisions taken by the Congress are adhered to by its affiliates.
Matthias mentioned that Solomon was asked on quite a few occasions to desist from making public pronouncements, but continued to do so and while they believe that he is a learned person and he must understand that rules must be adhered to.
He said the Congress was legally authorised to do what it did with regards to instructing that suspensions be handed down to the respective parties.
Matthias, however, encouraged the aggrieved officials to make the necessary arguments if they so desire to take the appeal route.
Quizzed on whether an Interim Management Committee (IMC) will be set up to run the affairs of football in the community, Matthias responded by stating that the GFF will not get involved in the nomination of persons to serve on any committee which according to him will have to be decided by those in the community, but their role will be to ratify such a Body should it become necessary.
In closing, he said that many attempts have been made by persons within the current administration and those who’ve been before to frustrate the work of development by the GFF, informing that it started even before they were duly elected and continues until now.