The Government of Trinidad and Tobago via a 13 November Cabinet decision, has agreed, through the Ministry of Sport, to provide financial assistance in the amount of $9,964,368.00 to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA). The payment, which is expected to be processed today, will facilitate the clearing of a backlog of expenses related to the Senior Men’s National Team.These funds represent an unbudgeted addition to the annual subvention already allocated to the TTFA in the 2015 Budget.

The $9.964m is expected to cover the following:

• Arrears of Match Fees and Bonuses for Senior Men's National Team and technical staff
• Arrears of Stipends for Senior Men's National Team
• Arrears of Salaries for five (5) members of Senior Men's National Team staff
• Senior Men's National Team Participation in the 2015 Caribbean Cup Finals and associated Training Camps
• Projected Remuneration for Senior Men's National Team technical staff for the period November 2014 – June 2015

In order to assure greater accountability and transparency, and to ease the financial burden faced by the entire team, this Cabinet-approved payment will be made directly to the players and technical staff. A similar arrangement was made when the Government allocated funding to settle the debt owed to members of the 2006 World Cup squad. Ministry of Sport officials are therefore working closely with technocrats from the Ministry of Finance to expedite the necessary procedures and protocols that will ensure the imminent release of monies to the players, technical team members and staff.

It should be noted that in the past two years, the TTFA has benefitted from several million dollars’ worth of support from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Further, the association benefits from rent-free office space at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,and pays no utility bills, as those expenses are covered under the stadium’s overall operational cost. The TTFA also enjoys free use of the Stadium for any and all TTFA-sanctioned games, tournaments and events.

The Ministry of Sport is and remains the single largest financial contributor to the TTFA and football in Trinidad and Tobago. Further, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago invests more state funds in sport per capita than any other country in the region.