GDF and Pele summoned by GFA to disciplinary hearing

The Guyana Defence Force and Pele Football Clubs have been summoned by the General Council of the Georgetown Football Association to a disciplinary hearing tomorrow in the boardroom of Sleepin International Hotel, Brickdam.

The hearing scheduled for 11:30 hours  comes after the two clubs pulled out from playing in the GFA sanctioned Banks knockout football tournament last month and will have to show cause why they should not be further penalised.

Pele had heeded a warning by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) late last year that if any club participated in GFA-sanctioned tournaments they would have been banned while the Army’s top brass pulled out its team the day before the scheduled start of the Banks knockout tournament.

According to reports reaching Stabroek Sport, a letter had come from the office of Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best informing the GFA of the withdrawal. No reason had been proffered by the Army for the decision.

The GFA in return had written the GDF saying that disciplinary action would have been taken when a date was decided on. The GFA had written stating that the “absence of a reason for the withdrawal/non-participation of the Guyana Defence Force FC can lead to numerous speculations and do a great disservice to the Georgetown Football Association, the sponsors who are interested in the development of the association, and last but not least, the large number of fans who have grown accustomed to the presence of the Guyana Defence Force FC and have lent their ardent support to the latter.”

At tomorrow’s hearing, according to documents seen by this newspaper, the General Council will deliberate on reasons for the withdrawal of the teams and the “current administrative status” of GDF and Pele. Pele, on the other hand, will have additional queries coming its way, especially since the General Council is interested in knowing why it participated in the 22nd Kashif & Shanghai tourney, where they were the losing finalists, without the GFA’s approval.

Questions will be asked also about Beacon and national striker Devon Millington appearing as a guest player for Pele.