Carlos Galarza, Vice President of Ecuafútbol, expresses his thoughts on the situation
Carlos Galarza, who has been serving as the Vice President of Ecuafútbol since April 24, when the organization's board decided to remove Francisco Egas from the presidency and declare Jaime Estrada as the new president, believes that FIFA has the final say in determining which board should lead Ecuadorian football. However, Galarza warned that if Conmebol's decision favors Egas, the group led by Estrada will turn to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"We are considering the possibility of going to CAS if Conmebol decides in favor of Francisco (Egas), because FIFA itself, in a statement last week, stated that this is an internal governance issue," affirmed the executive in an interview with radio Huancavilca on Friday.
- FIFA has not yet taken a position on Francisco Egas as president of FEF, says the organization
Additionally, Galarza directly criticized Carlos Manzur, the second vocal of the FEF board, insinuating that the latter is supporting Egas in the battle for the presidency.
Regarding the contractual situation of the sports director Antonio Cordón and the coach Jordi Cruyff, Galarza maintained that Egas has not been very useful for the interests of the Federation, but has been so -in this case- for the interests of the sports management and the coaching staff, in relation to the agreements made with the European professionals in the previous December and February, respectively.
"He (Egas) is the one who has authorized permits, the one who has allowed coach Cruyff to present himself in Quito with fanfare and then return to Spain. He is the one who has prevented adequate planning from being seen. We just found out yesterday that the coaching staff has already arrived and Jordi Cruyff will arrive on July 16; I think it is the first time we know in advance when the coaching staff will arrive, because the rest has been a mystery," criticized Galarza.
- Carlos Manzur: Francisco Egas has never ceased to be president of FEF, confirmed by Conmebol and FIFA
Galarza, the Vice President of Estrada, continued: "... Just as mysterious is the reduction or absence of a salary reduction for the coaching staff and the sports director. Only here Mr. Francisco Egas does not respond to the press or the country about whether or not this reduction happened. In addition, he says with such tranquility that he has not yet had an official meeting with Antonio Cordón, while the directors wonder what will happen with the sports management, he responded to that. (So) when he hears rumors, Jaime Estrada wrote to Cordón to talk and clarify the situation, but Cordón has not responded. I know the sports director is in Spain and I am concerned that Egas has not made an official statement regarding Cordón's future."
In case they are ratified by FIFA
If the board that assumed power after Egas' removal is ratified -a decision ratified in an extraordinary football congress in May-, Galarza assures that the national football authorities will respect the contract signed with the coaching staff of Jordi Cruyff and will request results from the work done since they were hired, "because the computer can handle everything," and "on the field, little to nothing has been done."
"Maybe we are wrong, let's give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they did a good job; but where is the information? Where are the results?" concluded the executive. (D)