Football Impasse Still Unsettled, three clubs Refuse To Play in Premier League

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Published on Saturday, 16 March 2013 18:15

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Editor's note: The following is the full text of a press release from the three football clubs that are at loggerheads with the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA). 

Basseterre, St Kitts (Press Release): Spurs FC, Conaree FC and St Pauls FC, the three clubs that joined to request arbitration over the failure of the Management Committee to obey the 2011-12 Rules & Regulations, today advised the FA that they will not participate in the premier division league until their matter is resolved. Their decision is consistent with the position their articulated to the FA since last year after it appeared that no meaningful progress towards a resolution was evident, and more recently following the receipt of a circular letter from the FA, dated 12 March 2013, advising  the start of the premier division league.

Following a meeting last Thursday, 7 March 2013, called to select a chairperson for the arbitration panel, representatives for the FA sought to present the clubs with cheques representing partial payment for 2011-12 prizes monies due in exchange for their signed undertaking to participate in the 2012-13 premier league. Our clubs refused to accept the cheques based on the condition specified.

In a letter dated 28 February 2013, our clubs requested payment of prize monies due from 2011-12 season. The amounts claimed were the minimum prize monies that are presently due, irrespective of the results of arbitration, and could not under any circumstance be deemed final settlement, as some were inclined to suggest.

Furthermore, we are appalled by the obvious attempt by the FA to buy our participation in the 2012-13 premier division league. When our clubs played in the 2011-12 league, we were, under the Rules & Regulation then in effect, entitled to prize monies if and only if our teams attained certain positions.  We accepted.  The competition having ended, the FA has no moral or legal basis to attach a new condition to the payment of prizes.  We decry the unethical offer and the unjust denial of our prize monies. Clearly, the FA, instead of focusing on resolving the eight (8) month old protest by constitutional means, is resorting to less than admirable tactics to get us to play ball. 

Our clubs also express concern about the composition of the league as advised in the letter from the FA noted above. The R & R of 2011-12 provided a formula to determine the composition of the league for the following season.  If there is a need to deviate from the 2011-12 R & R, we are of the view that there is a process by which this can be accomplished. Furthermore, we question the usefulness of ten (10) teams in the premier league, as espoused by the FA, as against twelve (12).  In the interest of transparency and equal opportunity for all members clubs, we are prepared to engage in discussion with other members clubs to facilitate the participation of twelve (12) teams in the premier division league for the 2012-13 football season.

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