Oceania confederation to discuss Temarii ban
Reuters - Thursday 25 November 2010, 21:35
ZURICH, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Oceania Football Federation
(OFC) will meet on Saturday to discuss the ban on its president
Reynald Temarii and consequent loss of its vote in the elections
to decide the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts, a spokeswoman said.
FIFA executive committee member Temarii was last week
suspended from all footballing activity for a year following an
investigation into allegations he offered to sell his vote in
the World Cup hosting contest to undercover newspaper reporters.
Tahiti's Temarii was the OFC's only representative on world
governing body FIFA's executive committee, whose members hold
all the votes for World Cup hosting.
He was found guilty by FIFA of breaking general rules on
ethical behaviour and loyalty.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said at the time the only chance
of Temarii being replaced would be if he resigned but this has
not happened so far.
"There's a meeting going ahead on Saturday in Auckland, the
executive committee will discuss all the recent developments
including the suspensions and the possible outcomes," said OFC
spokeswoman Priscilla Duncan in a telephone interview.
"There's a lot to be discussed in the meeting."
She said she could not comment on media reports that Temarii
could offer his resignation and the OFC would then elect a new
representative for the FIFA executive committee.
Senior vice-president David Chung, from Papua-New Guinea,
would appear to be first in line if Temarii stands down,
followed by vice-president Fred de Jong of New Zealand.
A FIFA spokesman said it was not possible at this stage to
say whether a hastily-elected Oceania representative could vote
when the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts are elected in Zurich.
FIFA's executive committee is down to 22 members after Amos
Adamu of Nigeria was suspended along with Temarii.
Adamu was found guilty of bribery.
England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands are
bidding to host the 2018 World Cup with Japan, South Korea,
Australia, Qatar and United States the candidates for 2022.