THE footballers who represented Trinidad and Tobago with such distinction at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany must be wondering what is wrong with the justice system in this country.

After waiting for what must have seemed like an eternity to get a hearing for their case in the High Court, the Soca Warriors finally thought they saw the light at the end of the tunnel when Justice Devindra Rampersad ruled in their favour last February and granted them an interim payment of just over US$1 million. The judge also announced that amount would be adjusted when the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation presents its accounts in proper order.

But, eight months later, the aggrieved Warriors are yet to be paid.

In a press release issued on behalf of the players on Wednesday, goalkeeper Kelvin Jack wrote: "We have given the TTFF, its president (Oliver Camps) and its former special adviser (Jack Warner) every opportunity to resolve this issue promptly and amicably.

"The issue is simple—Jack Warner promised that the TTFF would pay the players 50 per cent of the FIFA grant and commercial revenue (generated through T&T qualifying for the 2006 World Cup). All we want to know is what that figure amounts to. The TTFF could have given us this information long ago, without the need for complicated, drawn-out and expensive litigation."

The release continued: "A letter that was obtained from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs in September 2007 stated that 'the total sum contributed to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, private sector organisations and FIFA amounted to $205,690,113.50'.

"The obvious question that needs to be asked is, where did all that money go? How was it spent? This question becomes even more urgent when you examine the Federation's audited accounts for the years 2005 and 2006. These have been disclosed and they show total income for both years as being just $11,610,992."

Brent Sancho, another member of the 2006 World Cup team, stated the obvious.

"There should be a probe into where millions of dollars in taxpayers' money and corporate sponsorship went."

In such a sorry situation, anyone would be justified in querying if the TTFF is being allowed such leeway because of its ties to Mr Warner, its one-time special adviser, who is not only the Minister of Works and Infrastructure, but also chairman of the United National Congress, one of the entities of the People's Partnership Government.

As Mr Sancho stated: "...we have a Government Minister involved in an issue where millions of dollars are unaccounted for and no one blinks an eye. It's a disgrace."

After five years of running around from courtrooms in London and in Port of Spain, the Soca Warriors could be excused for getting a little hot under the collar.

It is nothing less than a national disgrace that this injustice is allowed to continue. The players deserve their reward for getting Trinidad and Tobago into the world's biggest and most watched sporting competition and they have already been denied for far too long.

It's time to pay the Soca Warriors.