Nakhid in hot water again

This time Nakhid is being upbraided for outspoken comments he made on Tuesday on local television concerning the Syrian community in Trinidad and Tobago.

The scathing comments have upset the Football Federation and their Special Advisor Jack Warner, a FIFA vice-president.

Warner, who is also a deputy leader of the United National Congress, has played a key role in Nakhid’s career and is reponsible for him being on the staff of the national football team.

Yesterday the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation and Local organising Committee Germany 2006 Ltd dissociated themselves "both individually and collectively from the racist comments or any comments that may be interpreted as racist, that were made by Nakhid in an interview on TV6’s Morning Edition programme on Tuesday, October 11."

The reaction was issued in a media release from the Football Federation. It further stated, "FIFA, of which the TTFF is a member, is well aware of the power of sport (and especially football) to combat racism and violence, and is totally committed to taking steps to eradicate these pernicious trends in society and football.

"No 7 in the FIFA Code of Ethics is also very clear. ‘Reject corruption, drugs, racism, violence, gambling and other dangers to our sport.’

"Both TTFF and LOC Germany 2006 are organisations that pride themselves on the respect that they hold for all individuals and groups regardless of race or religion.

"The objectives of both institutions are the development and promotion of football in Trinidad and Tobago and this we do to the best of our ability with the resources we have at our disposal.

"Mr David Nakhid was hired by the TTFF to assist the senior national team in its efforts to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Tournament to be held in Germany.

"He is not a spokesperson for either the TTFF or LOC Germany 2006 Ltd and the views expressed by Mr Nakhid are therefore not the views of either the TTFF or LOC Germany 2006.

"On behalf of the TTFF and LOC Germany 2006, we hereby apologise unreservedly to the national community and especially to the Syrian community towards whom the comments made by Mr Nakhid were directed and once again affirm our total respect and regard for all human beings regardless of race or religion."

The statement was submitted by Richard Groden, General-Secretary of the TTFF and Jack Warner, Chairman of the Local Organ-ising Committee.

The former national midfielder is no stranger to controversy over the years gaining the international limelight when he spoke up for foreign footballers playing in Leb-anon.

This earned the ire of the Lebanese authorities who proceeded to prosecute him but he was released from his contract through the intervention of Warner after an appeal was made to FIFA.

Nakhid was also at the helm of the Trinidad and Tobago team when Trinidad and Tobago were knocked out of the Gold Cup semi-finals in the US following a dispute over money under coach Bertille St Clair.