As part of FISTF’s drive to be fully compliant with our own Statutes, we realised the need to establish an Independent Arbitrators Committee (IAC).
The IAC is established under section 31 of the Statutes, and its mode of operation is outlined in Articles 26 and 27 of the Disciplinary Regulations outlined in section 7 of the Official Handbook.
In summary, the role of the IAC is to consider appeals of decisions made by the FISTF Disciplinary Council (DC).
At present the DC handles all disciplinary matters. It is comprised of Frank Chetcuti Dimech (Chair/MLT), Francesco Mattiangelli (ITA), with Steve Dettre (President/AUS) as ex officio member. There is one position vacant on the DC with the departure of Bob Varney.
Any appeal to a decision of the DC goes back to them. After that, the process is for the matter to be referred to the IAC. Despite no previous referral to an IAC, that does not negate the need for FISTF to
be fully compliant with our Statutes.
FISTF has therefore reached out to a number of people with impeccable standing in the Subbuteo table football community. Additionally, none of them is linked with a national association, so can remain
impartial in any discussions.
These three solid members of the game have agreed to our approach to form the first IAC. They have provided the following biographical information.
Paul O’Donovan Rossa (USA)
In England 1971-1979 I was a stalwart of the Surrey Subbuteo Club with Mike Dent and Richard Stock, editor of national newsletter The Blue, and ETF rules
secretary. From 1977, I focused solely on playing, winning the English League twice, the English Cup, and British Cups (individual and team). I represented
England at the Europa Cup three times.
In the USA 2012-2018, I attempted to transform the American Subbuteo Association. All transformation ends in failure of course, but seeds for
improvement can be sown along the way. I wanted USA players to demonstrate their prowess internationally. I proudly represented America at six World Cups, three times as captain.
Collective team effort and several years of coaching culminated in our Open team reaching the last 8 at Gibraltar in 2018. I also was USA Veterans champion in 2017.
Since 2018, I have fully focused on contributing to the world as a master executive and leadership coach, working at the United Nations, World Health Organization, White House, in Silicon Valley, the Big 4 and international NGOs.
Our sport is incredibly special. The essence of something I learnt in trying to excel at Subbuteo is captured in these words from Carl Jung – “Magic is a way of living. If one has done one’s best to steer the chariot, and one then notices that a greater other is actually steering it, then magical operation takes place”.
My support and respect to all who continue to carry the fire of competitive Subbuteo forwards. My all-time Subbuteo heroes are Antoon Verhaal and Carlos Flores.
Adrian Bacarisa (GIB)
I started playing Subbuteo Table Soccer as a young 7-year-old. In my early years in the Game I would play for fun with friends in the neighbourhood.
In September 1976 I joined the Gibraltar Table Soccer Association. I played in the different National League Divisions. Promotion to the top tier of the National League was achieved in three seasons. I won the Junior National Championship in 1978 and represented Gibraltar at the Subbuteo World Cup in Wembley reaching the quarterfinals.
Over the years I won various senior competitions in Gibraltar.
I was Gibraltar’s Team Official at the 1986 Subbuteo World Cup in Athens and at the 1990 Subbuteo World Cup in Rome. I refereed matches at these two tournaments. I was a Gibraltar player at the 1994 FISTF World Cup in Paris, France. I held the post President of the Gibraltar Table Soccer Association for several years.
Due to my own professional career in the Police Service and working my way up the ladder as a football referee with the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) I retired from active playing and subsequently the administration of the Game.
As a football referee I had a career of 25 years. I served as the President of The Gibraltar Referees’ Association from 1997-2013. I was the Referee Manager at The GFA 2013-2023. I was responsible for the operation of the Referee Dept and for the UEFA Referee Convention in Gibraltar.
I am currently a Referee Consultant for the GFA.
Trevor Spencer (ENG)
I joined Subbuteo in Kent in July 1981 as Assistant to marketing Director. Was mentored by George Underwood on the rules and the sport of Subbuteo by playing Subbuteo every day for 3 months to go through the rules and the history of the sport.
Main responsibilities product development, marketing and development of the sport through the UKSA and worldwide with FISA.
With regional and National UKSA organisers took the rules apart and updated them based on the current game in 1982 to be used at the Barcelona Subbuteo world cup.
From 1982-1992 managed the UKSA and FISA including being tournament director at the majors. Refereed National and regional tournaments ensuring close contact to sport.
1992 managed Waddingtons role in the process of creating FISTF with Laurent Garnier and others. Brought the ETSA and UKSA together.
Became General Secretary of FISTF. Once FISTF was established I resigned, and the sport became independent of Waddingtons/Subbuteo.
Continued to oversee UKSA regional and National tournaments and the Chicago world cup and London European championships, working with FISTF but only using Subbuteo
equipment.
From 1996 until I was made redundant in 1998 the UKSA disbanded I still supported as a sponsor and national countries ran themselves under the FISTF umbrella.
FISTF welcomes these valuable members to the operation of FISTF.