"Let the games begin!" - that was the order that came down from the Supreme Court this morning when it over-ruled the National Sports Council and ordered the removal of the locks off all public football fields.
The pronouncement came from no less than Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh as he handed Dr. Bertie Chimilio and the Football Federation of Belize their first victory in the courtroom battle against the sports council. The chief justice issued an injunction restraining the national sports council from denying FFB the use of public fields and granted the FFB leave for judicial review.
7NEWS caught up with Dr. Chimilio after the courtroom victory and surprisingly he wasn't gloating, just ready to play ball again.
Dr. Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"The ruling this morning is a good thing for football, for the country. And we hope our folks in the districts starting this weekend football can start playing again."
Keith Swift,
"Does the FFB feel vindicated?"
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
"We cannot say it's a first victory. We live in a democracy and we put the system to test. We did it with the first ruling this morning. And I think the system worked."
"What this means though is that our competitions will resume in the districts and the a tournament can continue as we planned it some months ago."
Keith Swift,
"With this judgment, games will resume again as of today?"
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
"I would think or presume that is what it means we have the use of all public facilities once it comes to football."
The injunction stands until March 18th when the Chief Justice will review the sports council's decision to cancel the registration of the FFB. Dean Barrow represented the FFB while attorney Michael Young represented the interest of government and the national sports council.
Meanwhile the FFB says its district tournaments will resume this weekend. And more importantly the recruiting for the world cup trials resumes on Wednesday at the FFB's headquarters in Belmopan.