BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - Minister of Sports Glenn Phillip has proclaimed that he would not intervene in the current dispute between the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) and the three upset clubs, which has led to a deadlock in the commencement of the Premier Division Competition.
Speaking on Freedom FM ‘Issues’ programme on Wednesday (Feb. 20), Phillip stated that the issue has to be resolved between both parties involved.
“I know it is on everybody’s mind. I have spoken to the SKNFA and I have spoken to the aggrieved party’s in terms of the clubs. But what people need to realise is that the clubs and the SKNFA have their own constitution and it is very difficult for a minister to intervene.
“I have brought both parties together sometime last year. I have spoken to them. I could tell you that at one point the SKNFA thought they were on the right ground. I spoke to the clubs and they thought that the SKNFA had breached their arrangement. But in truth and fact the ICC, the Olympic Committee, FIFA, FIBA, they do not like governments to get themselves involved in those matters because they have arbitration and they have a level of conducting their own internal investigation.”
The stalemate is currently preventing the commencement of the Premier Division and it stemmed from a protest brought by S.L. Horsford’s St. Paul’s following the completion of the 2012 football season. The football club claimed that the SKNFA had violated the Rules and Regulations of the Final Four Competition in determining the two teams that competed for the Championship.
Around the first week in January 2013, the SKNFA received a letter signed by the Presidents of S. L. Horsford’s St. Pauls, Conaree FC and UDC Garden Hotspurs containing what appeared to be a proposal in respect of the composition of the intended arbitration panel.
According to the SKNFA, there was no indication from the clubs whether or not they had dismissed their lawyer, as the contents of the letter appeared to contradict the position taken by their lawyer earlier. Moreover, the SKNFA found it impossible to proceed on two tracks.