The appeal submitted by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Puerto Rico Football Federation (Federacion Puertorriquena de Futbol – FPF) to investigate the selection of T&T’s footballer Andre Boucaud has fallen on deaf ears in the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
The two associations that pursued the case believed that Boucaud was ineligible for selection as he was a registered intermediary in the English Football Association at the time he was selected by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association.
The 36- year-old, Boucaud has 48 caps for the Soca Warriors scoring two goals. The midfield maestro was an unused substitute against Guyana on March 25th and played a couple second half minutes against Puerto Rico three days later in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He was an instrumental player in the midfield under former coach Stephan Hart but fell out of favour with Coach Dennis Lawrence and was recalled by current head coach Terry Fenwick.
The FPF released a statement on their social media platform stating, “Gordon Savic wishes to announce that the FIFA Disciplinary Department will not open the case related to Puerto Rico’s request to investigate the player Andre Boucaud, who was in the T&T world Cup qualifying game on March 28th in Mayagüez and that ended in a draw with a score of 1-1.”
The release continued, “The FPF requested the investigation into Boucaud for being the athlete’s agent, which was ineligible as a player. According to FIFA, Puerto Rico’s request does not comply with the requirements established in the code of discipline.”
The focus will now be shifted to the remainder of World Cup Qualifiers in June. The Soca Warriors will come up against Bahamas on June 5th away and St. Kitts & Nevis at an undisclosed venue three days later.
St Kitts & Nevis leads the five-team table in Group F with a maximum of six points from two matches following victories over Puerto Rico and Bahamas. The Soca Warriors are in second place with four points (one win, one draw) while Guyana is third with 3 points following a victory over Bahamas. Puerto Rico are fourth with one point from two games and Bahamas are at the bottom with no points.
