Championing integrity in Football

Once again, Football takes the spotlight in this exposition of On Target.

This, as the sport is topical here in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), occasioned by the pending elections of a new executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), coupled with the constitutional matters that are surfacing.

But critical to the imminent elections is the matter of integrity. Unfortunately, that has not been the focal point, as often times, it is about promised handouts, old allegiances and who knows whom.

Rarely, would affiliates dissect individuals who offer themselves for office, examine their uprightness, honesty and moral soundness.

The latter came to the fore at a meeting held last Saturday, November 25, at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, when affiliates voted in favour of deleting a clause in the new Constitution of the SVGFF.

Essentially, that clause sought to prevent officials who have run afoul of the SVGFF, Concacaf or FIFA from seeking office on the SVGFF.

The chicanery of the affiliates was exposed when 13 of the 21 present voted that the clause be removed, whilst seven requested that it remained and one abstained.

Article 23.8 of the proposed new statues of the SVGFF states: “In addition, the members of the bodies shall not have previously been sanctioned and/or suspended by any body of FIFA, Concacaf and or SVGFF”.

In a case of all’s well that ends well, Football’s world governing body – FIFA mandated that the clause be reinstated, as it lessens the breeding of unscrupulous persons in and out of sport’s operations.

FIFA in its wisdom wants its Member Associations as squeaky clean as possible, given they have had to deal with many instances of infractions by elected Football officials around the world.

We in St Vincent and the Grenadines do not seem to get the narrative, and seem hell bent on promoting wrongdoings.

Clearly, the representation at that meeting, although it was a fraction of the total number of affiliates of the SVGFF, was enough to gauge which side of morality the lot prefers to occupy.

Whilst it was a democratic process, the overt actions of the affiliates who were vehement that the clause be struck out, exemplify their thirst and greed to have corrupt persons lead the organisation.

Instead of looking at the bigger picture, the clause is not targeting anyone specifically, but sets the framework for the SVGFF’s governance in the future.

Therefore, the said clause is protecting the SVGFF from persons who have been found in breach of the rules of ethics relative to bribery and corruption, conflict of interest and loyalty from easing themselves back into the fold, effortlessly.

However, invariably, our affiliates prefer to sell their consciences short, for 30 pieces of silver, while Football in St Vincent and the Grenadines sinks deeper and deeper into regression.

Sadly, we are living in an era when taking the moral high road is fast becoming an unusual occurrence.

Our Football continues to be tarnished by that quest to have persons at the helm who are into the business of “you scratch my back, I scratch your back”, mentality.

Hopefully though, the affiliates who are blessed with ethical fabric, remain steadfast in their pursuit of having the best personnel given the mandate to administer and charter St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Football, taking it northwards.

Yes, one understands and accepts that the lure of reasonable honorarium to elected members of the SVGFF attracts people wanting to serve, but service to the sport should be top priority, when seeking such offices.

To some, it is a life changing experience for four years, as they have a secured “income” that can be used as collateral for investments.

Football has a lot to offer, but more can be gained if progress of the sport takes precedence.