The Cayman Islands Football Association has rejected claims by Cayman Athletic Sports Club that the association was in breach of its constitution during the recent annual general meeting and election.
Cayman Athletics president Antwan Seymour filed a complaint on 16 Sept., alleging that the football association had breached section 42.7 of its Memorandum and Articles of Association, which states that members who have not played for two consecutive years cannot vote in an election.
According to Cayman Athletic, despite this clear provision, two inactive clubs were allowed to vote at the AGM, which Seymour said disregarded the “association’s own statutes and sets a troubling precedent of selective rule enforcement”.
At the annual general meeting, held on 13 Sept., Alfredo Whittaker, who stood unopposed, was re-elected as president of the association. Members also re-elected Dion Brandon as second vice president, in race against Seymour and Jennifer Powery as deputy general secretary.
CIFA responded to Cayman Athletics’ complaint on 29 Sept., after the club had set an end-of-month deadline, threatening that, if the issue were not addressed, it would to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an international body headquartered in Switzerland which settles sporting disputes.
Marcos Tinoco, CIFA’s general secretary, replied, “As there were no objections raised at the 59th AGM, in accordance with article 11.5 of the articles of the association, the elections proceeded, and the results were confirmed.”
Seymour described the CIFA response as dismissive, and claim the reference to article 11.5 is irreverent.
“The fact remains that Rule 42.7 explicitly disqualifies clubs from voting if they have not participated for two consecutive years,” Seymour said. “The absence of objections at the AGM does not override the binding provisions of the Articles.
“We request clarification as to whether CIFA intends to uphold Rule 42.7 going forward or whether exceptions are being made without proper notice or amendments to the Articles.”
The Compass reached out to CIFA on 30 Sept., on why inactive clubs were allowed to vote in the election, but no response was received by print time.
