Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has defended his administration against concerns that the organisation is not properly accounting for the expenditure of public funds.
According to Edwards, Government subventions remain a sensitive issue, while corporate sponsorship agreements are bound by confidentiality clauses.
Edwards submitted a six-page response to the Sunday Express yesterday, nearly three weeks after questions were sent to him regarding the reconciliation of payments made to the TTFA through Government and State-enterprise subventions, as well as corporate sponsorships.
Edwards said the TTFA was not in a position to release financial data to the media concerning subventions received from SporTT until certain “accountability processes” had been completed.
“The TTFA confirms that subventions were received from SporTT in January 2025 and from the Ministry of Sport in October 2025, in amounts consistent with your inquiry. Both tranches of funding were applied exclusively toward the operational, technical and administrative requirements of the senior men’s national football team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, in accordance with the terms under which the funds were disbursed.
“The TTFA maintains appropriate financial records in respect of all government funding received, and these records are subject to the audit and reporting mechanisms agreed upon with SporTT,” he said.
TTFA fulfilling
Edwards said detailed expenditure breakdowns formed part of the TTFA’s formal obligations to SporTT and the Ministry of Sport and were being addressed through the legally prescribed channels.
“The Association does not consider it appropriate—and it would constitute a circumvention of established accountability processes—for itemised financial data to be released through the media prior to the conclusion of those formal processes.
“Any characterisation of the Association’s conduct as irregular or improper on the basis of the non-disclosure of information appropriately reserved for those formal mechanisms would be materially misleading and without foundation,” he added.
Edwards also addressed the TTFA’s failure to provide documentation to SporTT regarding the $6.79 million allocated for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
More than ten months after the request, SporTT has still not received a full accounting of how those funds were spent.
He said, “The TTFA takes its reporting obligations to SporTT with the utmost seriousness and is actively engaged in fulfilling those requirements. The preparation and submission of comprehensive expenditure documentation require detailed financial verification—a process the TTFA is committed to completing in a timely and accurate manner.
“The TTFA is in active, ongoing communication with SporTT in this regard. Any suggestion that the TTFA has failed or refused to meet its reporting obligations, absent the conclusion of that formal process, would be premature and potentially defamatory.”
NGC sponsorship details confidential
Addressing sponsorship from the National Gas Company (NGC), Edwards said he could not provide details of the $3 million agreement because of confidentiality provisions.
“The Association engaged with NGC in good faith regarding the terms of that sponsorship arrangement, including accountability and reporting obligations.
“The specific details of the commercial and reporting arrangements between the TTFA and NGC are confidential between the parties, having been negotiated and agreed upon on that basis. The Association confirms that it engaged with NGC’s concerns professionally and addressed outstanding matters in accordance with the agreed framework,” he said.
Edwards also acknowledged sponsorship agreements with other State-owned entities and private businesses but again maintained that the TTFA was not in a position to disclose details of those arrangements.
“Sponsorship agreements with Stag, Sunshine Snacks, bmobile, Lucozade and the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) were governed by formal contractual arrangements, and funds received were applied toward the objectives stipulated in each respective agreement.
“The 2024 audited financial statements, approved at the 2025 Ordinary Congress, reflect the appropriate membership oversight of these matters. The commercial and financial terms of the TTFA’s private sponsorship agreements are strictly confidential between the contracting parties, consistent with standard governance practice among national football associations globally,” he said.
Constrained financial conditions
Edwards also responded to questions regarding outstanding debts owed to several creditors.
“The TTFA acknowledges that, in common with many national sporting bodies operating under constrained financial conditions, the Association has faced financial obligations that have at times been challenging to discharge in full and within the timelines desired by service providers.
“The current administration inherited significant legacy debts from prior periods, including those arising during the FIFA Normalisation Committee era, and has been systematically and demonstrably working to address those obligations. The TTFA is engaged in ongoing dialogue with its creditors and remains committed to honouring all outstanding obligations,” he said.
