The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has lost its appeal in the matter filed against FIFA, as the Court of Appeal ruled that the world governing body for football was justified in its implementation of a normalisation committee- essentially dissolving the TTFA. 

The ruling sets aside high court Judge Carol Gobin’s verdicts on 13 August and 13 October.

In the ruling, which was handed down on Friday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie stated: “I have had the benefit of reading the judgment of Bereaux, J.A. in this matter and I agree with his reasoning and conclusions. Accordingly, I too would allow the appeal and set aside the decisions and declarations of the learned judge at first instance. It would also follow that the TTFA must pay FIFA’s costs.”

The CJ added that now that the court has rendered its decision, he wished to make some observations about the manner in which this case has been managed.

While we are aware that the filing of an appeal against a final decision does not entitle the
unsuccessful party to a stay, deeper consideration must be given in circumstances like this
where, depending on the outcome of the appeal, the effort expended would have been in
vain and the appellate court may be obliged to reverse any decision. Zeal is commendable
but it must not obscure the need for caution. I trust that, in future, Courts at first instance
will be guided accordingly.”

In response to the ruling, FIFA posted the following statement: “FIFA welcomes the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal, which ruled that the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) had acted unlawfully by appealing to a local court to contest the appointment of a normalisation committee for the TTFA. Among other relevant legal considerations, the Court of Appeal stressed that in accordance with the TTFA statutes and the FIFA statutes, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is the proper forum to resolve such dispute.”