The world’s football governing body, FIFA has confirmed that the planned December 20th Extra-ordinary congress by football stakeholders in Sierra Leone will be considered an illegal one.
The confirmation from FIFA came after stakeholders raised doubt over the authenticity of a December 2nd 2014 letter signed by the FIFA scribe, Jerome Valcke informing them article 17 para 3 of the FIFA Statues which stated that “Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with para. 1 shall not be recognized by FIFA.”
The confirmation from FIFA came after stakeholders raised doubt over the authenticity of a December 2nd 2014 letter signed by the FIFA scribe, Jerome Valcke informing them article 17 para 3 of the FIFA Statues which stated that “Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with para. 1 shall not be recognized by FIFA.”
In a bid to clarify the authenticity of the letter, Songhai Sports Network, Africa Bureau chief, Sahr Morris Jr. contacted the world’s governing body who confirmed that the said letter came from their scribe and beyond that resisted to make any further comment on the issue.
“We can confirm the letter you mention was sent by FIFA. We have no further comment at this stage,” the FIFA media department stated.
However, the FIFA scribe in his letter addressed to the SLFA President, Isha Johansen stated: “It has come to our attention through various media outlets that a supposed Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) stakeholders have apparently held a meeting on 16th November 2014 and taken certain decision, notably the election of a committee in charge of running the creation of steering committee and the covering of an extra ordinary congress on 20 December 2014.”
Valcke further reminded the stakeholders of article 17 para. 4 of the FIFA statue which underlines the decision that bodies that are not elected or appointed by the member associations shall not be recognized by FIFA.
“Any decision taken by the so called steering committee would be considered null and void and the convening of an extra-ordinary congress would be illegal,” Valcke stated.
However, the Chairman of Premier League club Anti-Drugs FC who also double as chairman of the SLFA constitutional committee Alhaji Unisa Alim Awoko Sesay said they are going to react to FIFA’s letter accordingly.
He said: “This is an internal matter and no amount of intimidation from FIFA or CAF will scare us. For Valcke, we are going to react to his letter soon and accordingly.”
“We can confirm the letter you mention was sent by FIFA. We have no further comment at this stage,” the FIFA media department stated.
However, the FIFA scribe in his letter addressed to the SLFA President, Isha Johansen stated: “It has come to our attention through various media outlets that a supposed Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) stakeholders have apparently held a meeting on 16th November 2014 and taken certain decision, notably the election of a committee in charge of running the creation of steering committee and the covering of an extra ordinary congress on 20 December 2014.”
Valcke further reminded the stakeholders of article 17 para. 4 of the FIFA statue which underlines the decision that bodies that are not elected or appointed by the member associations shall not be recognized by FIFA.
“Any decision taken by the so called steering committee would be considered null and void and the convening of an extra-ordinary congress would be illegal,” Valcke stated.
However, the Chairman of Premier League club Anti-Drugs FC who also double as chairman of the SLFA constitutional committee Alhaji Unisa Alim Awoko Sesay said they are going to react to FIFA’s letter accordingly.
He said: “This is an internal matter and no amount of intimidation from FIFA or CAF will scare us. For Valcke, we are going to react to his letter soon and accordingly.”
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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