ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Feb 7, CMC – Ousted Grenada Football Association (GFA) president Ashley ‘Ram’ Folkes has blasted Football’s governing body FIFA for its decision to fire his entire executive.

Folkes described FIFA’s action to remove his group as ‘high-handed and arbitrary’ and pledged to contest the ruling.

FIFA’s executive committee dismissed the Ram Folkes executive after receiving a report from FIFA attorney John Collins, who travelled to Grenada late last year to investigation on ongoing row in the GFA.

“My immediate reaction is disappointment that FIFA has taken a high-handed arbitrary decision that is not grounded in due process,” said Folkes, breaking his silence on the issue.

“I consider the executive to be the victim of a conspiracy with a sole objective being to keep GFA mismanaged for personal gains; to keep the unabated corruption and as Grenadians, we have to stand up an intervene against that,” Folkes declared.

Sacking the Folkes executive effectively ended lingering turmoil plaguing the GFA and cleared the way for fresh general elections.

FIFA’s decision backed 19 of the 35 clubs of the GFA which voted to remove the ‘Ram’ Folkes executive during an extra-ordinary meeting of the General Council last year.

“I do not know where it will reach but I can tell you I will not take it sitting down. I have not accepted the manner in which we have been removed,” Folkes said.

“I will give that committee a hundred percent support if they get the mandate to have a commission of inquiry with people outside of football to find out what is the problem with Grenada football,” Folkes said.

About two years ago, FIFA ruled that the Folkes led executive was guilty of violating GFA statutes and refusing to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council to entertain a no-confidence motion against him.

Ashley Folkes (File Photo) - Slams FIFA decision to axe his entire GFA executive

A FIFA endorsed five-man committee headed by speaker of the Grenada parliament George McGuire is currently paving the way for fresh general elections.