The much anticipated international friendly between the Soca Warriors and England is at risk of being cancelled after the Trinidad and Tobago government placed what FIFA VP Jack Warner is calling "onerous conditions" on use of the National Stadium for the game.
The minister in the middle of the melee is Sports Minister Gary Hunt. According to an irate Warner, "That is the most vindictive minister ever, and he shall pay".
"This is the same Minister who has refused to sign an arrangement with FIFA that will allow us to host in 2010 the FIFA Under-17 Women World Cup. And FIFA is giving us $10 million to help us. And all they are asking is that the Government allows whatever team qualifies for the final to get visas to come into the country, and to provide security and safety. And the Minister refuse to sign. On Monday I have to be in Sydney to apologise to the entire FIFA that this country would no longer host the Women's Under-17," Warner continued.
The "onerous conditions" are included in a new draft lease submitted by the Sports Ministry just ten days before the game billed as "A Score To Settle". Lawyers for the TTFF have given the Ministry Of Sports until Friday to retract the conditions before taking the case to the High Court for injunctive relief.
In the event of the cancellation of the game TTFF will be left with having to repay all purchasers of tickets and also possibly be left at the mercy of the England FA for losses incurred due to the game not be played.
According to Warner the Queen's Park Oval offered the use of the ground free of charge but only has a capacity of 16,000, when the National Stadium can hold 23,000. He regards the decision to use the National Stadium as "the biggest sporting mistake of my life".
The Ministry Of Sports is expected to provide a release to the press today in response to this breaking news.
