The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has circulated an audit report to its members which highlights several instances of irregularities by its officials over a two-year period.
The GFF recently released a 38-page audit done by Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants Professional Firm to its membership for perusal before the November 14th GFF elections.
Following the April 12 2013 elections where Christopher Matthias was elected president the GFF executive voted to appoint new external auditors to carry out an independent audit of the GFF for the years 2011 and 2012.
According to a copy of the report seen by Stabroek Sports, payment vouchers in some instances were not signed as “checked”, “prepared by” and “approved” by the relevant persons.
Additionally two (2) vouchers, for cheques amounting to G$2,159,928 could not be located along with the relevant payment vouchers and supporting documents.
The report also stated that: “Several suppliers were found to be related to or associated with members of the executive committee and/or staff of the secretariat.
“However, such relationships and transactions were not disclosed in the financial statements of the Federation.
“During our examination, we noted several instances where records of guests/passengers were not maintained for travelling, where insufficient preparation and approval signatures were present for the payments, and where supporting vouchers and documents were not available. Additionally, we examined records of games/gate income and found that records were inadequate to ensure that income was completely recorded and safeguard the funds of the Federation,” stated the report.
“While a number of control breaches have been found, we could not made a direct conclusion on fraud without an investigation of the circumstances surrounding these breaches and obtaining explanations from the individuals concerned. Consequently, we recommend that management review our findings and carry out such investigations as are considered necessary to determine whether the breaches were as a result of fraud.
“A weak control environment – i.e. where persons in authority fail to carry out functions – could lead to a culture of non-compliance and weaken entire systems of internal control. The Federation should ensure that persons carry out the respective functions including providing appropriate signatures and ensuring that systems such as ticketing are strengthened. “
Contacted yesterday former GFF president Matthias said the document simply reveals the corruption that has always been entrenched in the entity.
“The forensic audit has revealed that the GFF has been an enterprise that was never about the development of football in Guyana. Development requires qualified teachers of the game, proper structure, adequate materials for the game, proper playing surface and in addition, a national policy for the growth and development game,” said Matthias in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports.
“The then constitution spoke of five beautiful works, to develop, improve, promote, regulate and control association football at all level. The objective of the constitution requires us to develop a product, improve, promote, regulate and control that product.
“We did none of the above and what was sad is that that parent of the game FIFA, in desiring that we achieved those objectives, would have sent to us US 1.3 billion dollars in a period of approximately 15 years. Sadly, the beneficiaries of the game, as in the associations, clubs and players did not benefit from FIFA’s largesse.”
“It is the trustees of the sport that benefitted, the people who were given the responsibility to administer and manage the discipline, them and their friends benefitted,” said Matthias.
The report also looked at an agreement the GFF entered into with Sponsports FA, a Panama Corporation for gate income rights for World Cup Qualifying game between Guyana and Mexico on October 12, 2012.
So far there has been no disclosure of how much money the GFF received for deciding to stage their home match in the USA.
“They simply want to run game for one purpose which is to continue what they were doing. How would you explain an individual receiving and spending in excess of 300 million on World Cup Qualifiers and would have shifted a game from our home soil to the United States where we would have had the advantage of playing at home and would have had the technical and crowd support as well as the financial benefit?” he asked.
“The individual transferred the game on the context that it was financially lucrative to do so even though our then technical director and manger could not have gone to the United States. Then this individual reported a profit of US$15,000 and until now we don’t know anything about the money for switching the game.
“That gentleman is now the president of an association and is being touted as a possible General Secretary candidate on one of the slates contesting the GFF Elections. It is simply musical chairs. This individual was also secretary of an association and now he is the president,” he said.
Questioned what it says about the manner in which the GFF was run from the financial side during that period, he declared: “It shows that there were corrupt practices and that there was no administrative or financial prudence.
“The federation is still paying a mortgage on a building valued at 14 million dollars despite being in receipt of all those funds. It is simply a wanton waste of financial resources.”
“It shows the brazenness of these individuals, it also shows the measure of competence of the congress and it gives the picture of what football in Guyana really is. Persons who were associated during that time period should not be even considered for ball boys”.
Asked if he was ever approached by any slate with regards to being a possible general secretary candidate, he remarked:” I have never been approached by any slate and I have and will never consider it unless and until the measure I suggested which is proper constitutional reform, the congress understands it role and responsibility and has a collective consciousness, understanding and agreement as to what is required of Guyana’s development.
“Only then will I ever consider or attempt to revisit that organization. I also call on all stakeholders even the media like the auditors Ram and McRae to call the finding of the audit for what it is,” he added
