The Gambia Football Federation has cancelled plans to hold an Extra Ordinary General Assembly where it had aimed to approve the appropriation of Covid-19 Relief Funds and to also approve amendments to 2020 budget.
The Extra Ordinary General Assembly was scheduled for Saturday 18th July, 2020 at the Football Hotel in Yundum.
Lamin Kabba Bajo, the President of The Gambia Football Federation, said: “following consulations with FIFA, I was informed by FIFA that they are still working on the regulations for the COVID-19 relief plan and they are not yet ready.”
It could be recalled that the FIFA Council recently approved the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan, which was designed by the FIFA administration. Across its three stages, this global support plan will make available up to USD 1.5 billion to assist the football community.
“We have to wait because these are regulations which will guide member associations about the usage of the COVID-19 funds. Thus, member associations should wait for the regulations before taking any decisions, “said Kabba Bajo.
In the first two stages of the plan, FIFA provided for the immediate release of all Forward operational-cost payments to member associations and, subsequently, for the opportunity to transform Forward development grants into COVID-19 operational relief funds – with a minimum of 50% of released funds to be allocated to women’s football.
However, FIFA said, to ensure effective oversight of the plan, there will be strict controls on the use of funds, audit requirements, as well as clear loan repayment conditions. A FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan steering committee will also be established to supervise the administration of the scheme.