Bahrain face severe FIFA penalties

This after the hostile treatment that the national footballers faced during their World Cup Final Round qualifier against Bahrain on Wednesday.

Warner said, although he cannot say what the penalty would be, he assured that FIFA would act swiftly and severely. He pointed out that the situation in Bahrain was chaotic. However, he said the Trinidad and Tobago players behaved admirably. Warner said, they were pelted with stones and abused in all kinds of ways.

Meanwhile, Capt Horace Burrell, ex-president of the Jamaica Football Federation said the TT Government has a responsibility to make the players feel that they have achieved what they have for the country.

He said, back in Jamaica, the players were given houses, land and some were given loans from which they could construct their houses.

Capt Burrell said that in Trinidad and Tobago, government should follow the same, since they have more resources to do so. He said the players have brought great honour to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and we have not begun to feel the effects of their success.

Burrell pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago would benefit from tourism and it would boost the morale of the people. Prime Minister Patrick Manning said he would meet with national captain Dwight Yorke in a few days’ time to sort out what the players would be given for their achievements. Manning also said the government would ensure that coach Leo Beenhakker be given a job since he heard that the Dutch-born tactician’s contract had expired.

Warner said the team’s preparation for the 2006 World Cup in Germany would be beefed up with a series of international friendly matches including one on March 29 that would ensure huge ticket sales.