Local football body assessing claims of shabby treatment in Grenada By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
March 5, 2004

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The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will follow up on the alleged shabby treatment meted out to the Technical Director and the senior national football team on the recent tour of Grenada.

President Colin Klass said the GFF is awaiting a report before engaging the Grenadian authorities, and, if necessary, the Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF.

"As soon as we are in receipt of the official report we will definitely follow it up with the Grenadian authorities and if need be we will take it further to the CFU and CONCACAF," Klass said.

Dos Santos complained that the treatment in Grenada was less than fitting, starting from the team's arrival at the airport. He said members of the touring party were fed diet-sized meals at the hotel and at times had to provide their own meals.

"The only meal that was decently provided for us was the last meal, after we played Grenada. It was a big buffet. On the day of the match, the manager had to go out to buy bread and cheese for the players to have breakfast.

"They would always come with a big smile saying that things would be fixed but I'm waiting until now," Dos Santos said.

Klass contended that at the World Cup level such things ought not to happen.

"From the beginning I had my passport taken at the airport and returned to me in the night. I have travelled all over the world and never saw that happen," Dos Santos said.

The passport was seized by immigration authorities on the island because the Dos Santos was not in possession of a visa and was not a Caricom national. The visa requirement was waived approximately five hours after and Dos Santos's passport returned.

The Brazilian also criticized the Grenada Football Association for not having a single official at the airport to receive the Guyana team and called on the local body to take note.

"I'm not surprised at what happened since I know that World Cup is war and those are some things that must be considered in terms of reciprocal tactics. We have to start to face it as a war too," Dos Santos said.