Below is Fifa’s letter to the GFF on the situation in Gambian football
Dear President,
We refer to the decision of the National Sports Council (NSC) dated 9 November 2017 to suspend you as well as the First Vice President, the Second Vice President, the Third Vice President and a co-opted member of the Executive Committee of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) on the basis of an alleged refusal to recognise and cooperate with an investigation panel established by the NSC following “allegations of financial fraud, GFF constitutional violations on the Regional Football Associations Elective Congresses, Match Fixing Allegations” and “disregarding directives of the Council to suspend the second division match until the outcome of the investigations” and in order to enable the NSC investigation team to carry out “the investigation without interference from the suspended officials”.
FIFA, including myself, have repeatedly tried to meet during the week from 7 to 12 November 2017, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Henry Gomez, under whose authority the NSC appears to be, in order to discuss the aforementioned matter, but to no avail.
In this context, we remind you that in accordance with art. 14 par. 1 let. i), and par. 3, and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes all member associations, including the GFF, are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from any third party. Failure to meet these obligations may lead to sanctions as provided for in the FIFA Statutes, including a possible suspension, even if the third-party influence was not the fault of the member association concerned.
The aforementioned decision of the NSC dated 9 November 2017 seems to go against these principles and, if implemented, would most likely be considered as an undue interference in the affairs of the GFF.
Consequently, we kindly ask you to share this message with the Minister and indicate to him that if the decision is not withdrawn until Monday, 27 November 2017 the matter would be automatically submitted to the Bureau of the FIFA Council for consideration of further measures in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
In the meantime, we remain at the full disposal of the Gambian authorities to discuss, jointly with the GFF, amicably and in a spirit of constructive partnership.
