The legal woes of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) continued to grow yesterday as the case involving legal action of former head coach Russell Latapy for more than US$1 million in unpaid salaries and damages was heard in court. The action follows Latapy dismissal from the post of head coach of the National Senior Football on April 8, last year, after almost two years at the helm of the team. In his fixed claim form, filed in the Port-of-Spain High Court on October 12, last year, Latapy through his attorneys, is seeking US$424,278 in outstanding salary payments and US$402,852 in damages. According to his court filings, the sum of damages being sought in the courts represents 12 months of salaries after his dismissal as coach to the end of his alleged contract. Latapy is also seeking interest for the both sums from the date of his dismissal to the future date of the delivery of the judgment.
Last Thursday 13 current and former players of the World Cup 2006 squad levied upon the Dundonald Street, Port-of-Spain offices of the Federation were under the supervision of a marshall of the court the players removed all office furniture and equipment. The players action stemmed from a judgment of Justice Devindra Rampersad, last year, who ordered that the TTFF pay the players approximately $4.2 million (US$710,000) in fees accumulated over the campaign. Representatives of the TTFF and their attorneys are expected to reappear in court tomorrow as they are due to state what actions they intend to retrieve the accounting documents of the Federation, pursuant to an order made by Rampersad. When the matter was called yesterday before Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee in the Port-of-Spain High Court, it was adjourned after a brief in chamber hearing to March 23. In his claim, Latapy's attorney allege that in March 2010, during a meeting with TTFF special advisor Jack Warner and general secretary Richard Groden, their client (Latapy) entered into an oral contract with the Federation that he would serve a further two years in the position, ending in March 2012.
Latapy's first stint as head coach after retiring as a player began on April 15, 2009 with it cumulating at the end of T&T's World Cup 2010 qualification campaign on November 30, 2009. Under a written agreement with the TTFF, Latapy's base monthly wages were $33,571, which were maintained at the same amount during his second stint in the position. In his claim, Latapy also alleged that under his tenure, he was only partially paid during some months and received no pay in others. Latapsy's court filings also details several lump sum payments made by the Federation after his dismissal and other one-off payments that did not total his full salary due to him. According to the documents, Latapy also alleges that he contacted the Federation on several occasions, demanding his payments, which were ignored. During yesterday's case management conference, the TTFF was represented by attorney Dereck Balliram while Imran Ali appeared on behalf of Latapy.