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Rawell Pelayo was deported to Belize last week after serving time in a U.S. jail cell for his purported role in drug trafficking. The name has also been synonymous with football for a number of years, including his promotion to second vice president of the Football Federation of Belize in March 2012. But his reputation has since been tarnished, following Pelayo’s indictment in a New York courtroom and his sensational arrest in Houston, Texas a little over a year later. News in the football world tonight however, is that the Orange Walk businessman is expected to abdicate his post in the wake of a meeting held by the F.F.B. over the weekend. While a discussion on his fate within the organization was removed as an agenda item during the congress, President Ruperto Vicente tells the media that Pelayo intends to tender his letter of resignation in the days ahead.
Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.
“Mr. Pelayo is a member of the football family and we want to treat every member of our football family with respect. Mr. Pelayo, yes he was on the agenda item on our, for today’s meeting but we removed that from the agenda because, you know, we want to give Mr. Pelayo the opportunity to submit his resignation which he has indicated that he will send in that resignation and so for that reason we removed the item from the agenda.”
Reporter
“Now sir, we’re made to understand that that criminal conviction in the United States is what made him ineligible to continue as an executive member. Is that indeed accurate?”
Ruperto Vicente
“Certainly. And that has always been a part of the federation’s guidelines for any executive member. If you are being, whether it be nationally or internationally, if you are being criminally charged then you cannot serve on the executive of the Football Federation of Belize. Yes, that is true.”
Reporter
“What is happening with this timeline of his orderly departure from the F.F.B.?”
Ruperto Vicente
“Well, we are awaiting his resignation and when that comes around then the executive will move on from there and make an announcement.”
Reporter
“What will happen with his replacement, how will that process take place?”
Ruperto Vicente
“Well, the federation will have to call an extraordinary congress for an election or the executive can recommend that someone replace him in the interim.”
Duane Moody
“Sir, in reference to the documents that I believe that Mr. Pelayo had with him when he was nabbed in the U.S., any update on that? Have you guys received any of those [documents] since Mr. Pelayo has returned? What now?”
Ruperto Vicente
“No. I have not had any meeting with Mr. Pelayo and I’ve been out of the country most of the time. So we will be meeting with him and as soon as we get those documents, whether we get them or not we will produce that financial report that is, that we are required to submit and that we have the obligation to submit to the public.”