UP to late yesterday evening Guyana's football was once again reeling on the ropes as apparent bureaucracy and foot dragging seemed set to stall the realisation of the football training facility promised by world governing body FIFA.

Six days after the January 25 deadline for the submission of documents to FIFA regional development officer Keith Look-Loy, the Guyana Football Federation is yet to receive confirmation from the Government that land for the facility would be made available.

Instead the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Gail Teixeira is insisting that the GFF produce a full project proposal including the cost for the facility.

The delay in forwarding the required information could result in Guyana losing out on the facility.

On a three-day visit to Guyana earlier this month, Look-Loy had requested that the GFF submit among other documents, a written confirmation that the Guyana government will provide land.

When contacted in Trinidad yesterday Look-Loy acknowledged that he was still awaiting the government's confirmation which he stressed is "absolutely essential."

Stabroek Sport is in possession of a copy of a letter sent on January 10 to Teixeira by GFF general secretary George Rutherford which pointed out that among the documentation needed before FIFA approves funds for the project, is an indication of Government's commitment to provide land (free-hold or on a long term lease basis) to the GFF for construction of the facility.

Rutherford further requested an answer on or before January 18. However, in an eleventh hour reply dated January 24, Minister Teixeira, stated that she was not in receipt of the project proposal she requested.

Teixeira stated that the Ministry, in order to process the GFF's request for land, would require in writing a detailed project document defining total cost, source of funds over stated times, drawings for the said facility etc.

She also claimed to have placed the onus on the GFF to identify possible land sites.

Asked if GFF had presented the documents required Rutherford indicated that a copy of the consultant's report which provided much of the details requested by the Minister will be forwarded to Mr. Look-Loy and the Minister.

Rutherford explained that a proposal, submitted by the architect, was sent to the Minister on November 29 last year.

That proposal, he pointed out, indicated what could be provided utilising US$400,000 for the first phase of the facility as well as other developmental work for the second phase costing an additional $US600,000 to be provided by FIFA.

Efforts yesterday to get a comment from the Minister proved futile.

FIFA plans to inject US$400,000 towards the construction of the football facility here as part of its Goal Programme.

While in Guyana Look-Loy stressed that Government does not have to refer to a specific plot of land for the project to be approved. Instead all that was required was a written commitment in principle that the Government was prepared to donate suitable land to the GFF.

At that time GFF president Colin Klass said that he had received assurance from the Minister of Sport that government was committed to having the land made available.

"That was the message that was conveyed to us by the Minister, that the government is committed to making land available for the purpose of constructing this multi-purpose facility," Klass said then.

Meanwhile, amidst all the lost time, Guyana's football remains on the verge of being issued another red card.