All tickets valid says Football Federation

This is according to general-secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) Richard Groden who gave this assurance in a press release yesterday.

Groden, who was previously silent on matters concerning the allocation of the 10,749 tickets for three Soca Warriors matches declared yesterday that the sale of tickets from Simpaul’s Travel Service or any other organisations is legitimate.

This despite the ongoing controversy involving Warner who is a director of Simpaul’s along with son Daryan and wife Maureen.

Because the Port-of-Spain travel agency was handed exclusive rights to distribute the tickets which were linked to World Cup packages costing upwards of $30,000, Warner was on Thursday found to have violated FIFA’s Code of Ethics.

He was also declared to be in conflict of interest and the matter was handed to FIFA’s Executive Committee who meet on March 16 and 17 and will decide the Trinidadian’s fate at the world body.

The release yesterday signed by Groden stated that Simpaul’s is the only travel agency authorised by FIFA to do business transactions related to the sale and distribution of World Cup tickets.

But under the Participating Member Association Ticket Allocation Agreement, Section E — Other Sales Restrictions, it was stated:

"The need to make sure that tickets are not sold as part of a package or made available on the condition that other products or services are also purchased."