Caribbean Football Union

Last updated
Caribbean Football Union
AbbreviationCFU
Formation28 January 1978;46 years ago (1978-01-28)
Type Sports organisation
Headquarters Jamaica
Membership 31 member associations
Secretary General
Camara David
President
Randy Harris
CFU countries location map. CFU countries location map.png
CFU countries location map.

The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) is the representative organization for football associations in the Caribbean. It represents 25 FIFA member nations, as well as 6 territories that are not affiliated with FIFA. The Union was established in January 1978 and its member associations compete in the CONCACAF region.

Contents

The CFU runs multiple competitions, including the CFU Club Shield, CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, and youth challenge series.

History

The formation of the Caribbean Football Union is credited to former Trinidad and Tobago national footballer Patrick Raymond. In 1976, he approached Phil Woosnam, the Commissioner of the North American Soccer League (NASL), about ownership of a Caribbean franchise within the NASL, and instead, Woosnam proposed the formation of a Caribbean Professional League. Acting on Woosnam's advice, and with assistance from former England player-turned businessman Jimmy Hill and his company World Sports Academy, plus the recommendation of former FIFA President Sir Stanley Rous, that a Caribbean regional governing body as a sub-group within CONCACAF be the first order of business, Raymond introduced the initiative in August 1977 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, that eventually led to the formation of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The CFU was inaugurated on January 28, 1978, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as the Caribbean region's governing football body and a sub-group within CONCACAF.

A previous effort to establish a Caribbean regional governing body was the British Caribbean Football Association (BCFA) in January 1957, with the Trinidad & Tobago FA's President Ken Galt as the BCFA's president, and the TTFA's Secretary Eric James as General Secretary, and in 1959, a representative BCFA team toured the UK.

In May 2013, under the direction of Damien E. Hughes, the CFU relocated their offices from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad to Kingston, Jamaica. [1] In August 2015, Hughes was replaced by Antiguan Neil Cochrane. Cochrane announced that several jobs would be moved from Jamaica to Antigua and a smaller headquarters would be rented. [2]

Corruption scandal

The union was embroiled in a scandal in May 2011 after several representatives of Caribbean Football Associations had been given brown paper envelopes containing US$40,000. The incident was reported to the CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer. The next day, footage from a private meeting between CFU officials was leaked to the public. This footage showed President Jack Warner informing the delegates who had received envelopes that the funds within were for their personal use, stating,"If you're pious, you should go to church." [3] An investigation initiated by FIFA examined the actions of over 30 CFU representatives and resulted in the resignation of the CFU president, the suspension of the organization's vice-presidents and staff, and the resignation of several national football association staff.

Competitions

The CFU Championship was a tournament for national teams in the region active between 1978 and 1988. It was sometimes referred to as the CFU Nations Cup. The Caribbean Cup was the international cup for the Caribbean between 1989 and 2017; the top 4 teams in the tournament used to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Caribbean Club Championship was the championship for Caribbean club teams. The winner qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup from 1997 and until 2008, and from 2008–09 until 2016–17, the top 3 clubs qualified for a preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League. Since 2017, the winner of the rebranded Caribbean Club Championship qualified for the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

The CONCACAF Caribbean Cup is the latest announced regional competition.

Previously the CFU had organised a pan-Caribbean league, the Caribbean Professional Football League; it was active between 1992 and 1994.

Current title holders

CompetitionYearChampionsTitleRunners-upNext editionDates
National teams
Caribbean Cup 2017 Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 1stFlag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Abolished
U-23 Tournament 2015 Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti unknownFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba TBD
U-20 Tournament 2016 Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti unknownFlag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda TBD
U-17 Tournament 2016 Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti unknownFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba TBD
U-14 Tournament 2024Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica —Flag of French Guiana.svg  French Guiana 2026
Futsal Championship 2016 Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba unknownFlag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao TBD
National teams (women)
Women's Caribbean Cup 2018 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago unknownunknown TBD
Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2015 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago unknownFlag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico TBD
Women's U-20 Tournament 2017 Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica unknownFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti TBD
Women's U-17 Tournament 2017 Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti unknownFlag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda TBD
Girls U-14 Tournament 2023 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico —Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba TBD
Club teams
CONCACAF Caribbean Cup 2024 Flag of Jamaica.svg Cavalier 1st Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Cibao 2025
CFU Club Shield 2024 Flag of Jamaica.svg Arnett Gardens 1st Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Grenades 2025

1No outright winner or champion emerges from this competition as it is not a competitive championship.

Representative team

A Caribbean national team has played several exhibition fixtures. In 1987 a Caribbean XI entertained Brazilian São Paulo FC and a year later a 'Caribbean Selection' played against the national team of Trinidad and Tobago. Since the formation of the CFU, games have typically taken place in Port of Spain.

Caribbean0–2 Flag of Brazil.svg São Paulo
Report
  • Netto Soccerball shade.svg72'
  • Pita Soccerball shade.svg76'
National Stadium, Port of Spain
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Albert Allman
Caribbean0–2Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago
Report Jones Soccerball shade.svg73', 87'
National Stadium, Port of Spain
Caribbean2–2 Flag of England.svg Crystal Palace
Report
National Stadium, Port of Spain

In August 1993, CFU President Jack Warner ruled out the possibility of merging the Caribbean nations into one national football team, similar to the West Indies cricket team. He said: "There seems to be some myth outside there that a Caribbean team is the answer to football in the region. I have never heard anything so ludicrous," said Warner, "If to reach a [FIFA] World Cup have to be considered by size, why haven't China ever made it. The simple fact is, we must take whatever seems to be our liabilities and make them our assets. Being small is never a liability in this sport". [4]

Presidents

There have been three presidents (and three acting presidents) of the CFU since its foundation:

  1. ↑ Austin was suspended from his position after four days for attempting to overrule FIFA in the Barbadian civil court
  2. ↑ Derrick was banned by FIFA.

General secretaries

There have been seven general secretaries of the CFU since its foundation:

Staff

Members of the CFU (orange), members of the CONCACAF (orange and camel). Members of CFU.svg
Members of the CFU (orange), members of the CONCACAF (orange and camel).

As of 23 July 2016: [5]

PresidentRandolph Harris (Barbados)
Vice PresidentRignaal Francisca (Curaçao)
Vice PresidentMichael Ricketts (Jamaica)
Vice PresidentLyndon Cooper (Saint Lucia)
Vice PresidentRichard Dijkhoff (Aruba)
Executive Committee MembersGwendolyn Salmon (Antigua and Barbuda)
Glen Etienne (Dominica)
Eric Labrador (Puerto Rico)

Member associations

Current members

NationAssociationNational teamYear joined the CFU [6] FIFA statusIsland groupGeographical region
Flag of Anguilla.svg  Anguilla Anguilla Football Association Anguilla 1996MemberLeeward Islands
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Football Association Antigua and Barbuda 1978MemberLeeward Islands
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba Arubaanse Voetbal Bond Aruba 1988MemberLeeward Antilles
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Bahamas Football Association Bahamas 1978MemberLucayan Archipelago
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados Barbados Football Association Barbados 1978MemberWindward Islands
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda Bermuda Football Association Bermuda 1978MemberNorth America
Flag of Bonaire.svg  Bonaire Bonaire Football Federation Bonaire 2013Non-memberLeeward Antilles
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Football Association British Virgin Islands 1996MemberLeeward Islands
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands Cayman Islands Football Association Cayman Islands 1992MemberGreater Antilles
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba Cuba 1978MemberGreater Antilles
Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao Curaçao Football Federation Curaçao 1978MemberLeeward Antilles
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica Dominica Football Association Dominica 1994MemberWindward Islands
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Dominican Football Federation Dominican Republic 1978MemberGreater Antilles
Flag of French Guiana.svg  French Guiana Ligue de football de la Guyane French Guiana 1978Non-memberSouth America
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada Grenada Football Association Grenada 1978MemberWindward Islands
Flag of Guadeloupe (local).svg  Guadeloupe Ligue Guadeloupéenne de Football Guadeloupe 1978Non-memberLeeward Islands
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana Guyana Football Federation Guyana 1978MemberSouth America
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Haitian Football Federation Haiti 1978MemberGreater Antilles
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Jamaica Football Federation Jamaica 1978MemberGreater Antilles
Flag-of-Martinique.svg  Martinique Ligue de football de la Martinique Martinique 1978Non-memberWindward Islands
Flag of Montserrat.svg  Montserrat Montserrat Football Association Montserrat 1996MemberLeeward Islands
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican Football Federation Puerto Rico 1978MemberGreater Antilles
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Football Association Saint Kitts and Nevis 1992MemberLeeward Islands
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia Saint Lucia Football Association Saint Lucia 1988MemberWindward Islands
Flag of France.svg  Saint Martin Comité de Football des Îles du Nord Saint Martin Non-memberLeeward Islands
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1988MemberWindward Islands
Flag of Sint Maarten.svg  Sint Maarten Sint Maarten Soccer Association Sint Maarten Non-memberLeeward Islands
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname Surinaamse Voetbal Bond Suriname 1978MemberSouth America
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Trinidad and Tobago 1978MemberWindward Islands
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg  Turks and Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association Turks and Caicos Islands 1998MemberLucayan Archipelago
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation United States Virgin Islands 1998MemberLeeward Islands

Former Members

AssociationYearNote
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  Netherlands Antilles 1978-2010Netherlands Antilles was a founding member of CFU, Aruba was split from Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and forming their National Team. In 2011, NAFU was succeeded by Federashon Futbol Korsou (FFK) following the dissolution of Netherlands Antilles

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Walker, Howard (27 May 2013). "Latoya DaCosta seeks to take CFU to next level". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Baptiste, Neto (27 August 2015). "Cochrane Appointed New CFU General Secretary". Antigua Observer. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Exclusive video: Jack Warner's address to Caribbean Fifa delegates". Daily Telegraph. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Warner Rejects Idea Of Pan-Caribbean Team". Jamaica Gleaner. 4 August 1993. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  5. ↑ Admin, CFU Web. "Gordon Derrick elected CFU President for a Second Consecutive Term - Caribbean Cup". www.cfufootball.org. Archived from the original on 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  6. ↑ "Member Associations - Member Associations". www.cfufootball.org. Archived from the original on 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-04-23.


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