Oceania vote void after Temarii appeals ban
Reuters - Tuesday 30 November 2010, 23:54
ZURICH - Oceania will not have a vote in
Thursday's decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts after
suspended delegate Reynald Temarii decided to appeal his ban,
the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said on Wednesday.
Temarii was suspended, along with Amos Adamu of Nigeria,
following an investigation by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper
which alleged they were prepared to sell their votes for cash.
OFC acting head David Chung of Papua New Guinea flew to
Zurich expecting to take Temarii's place on the FIFA executive
committee but he is now not allowed to vote.
"FIFA has outlined that Oceania's sole spot on the FIFA
Executive Committee is not considered vacant as long as the
appeal process is still open," the OFC said in a statement.
"Therefore, Acting OFC President David Chung will not be
able to replace Mr. Temarii on the FIFA Executive until such
time as the appeal process has concluded," it added.
The hosting decision will now be made by 22 members of the
executive committee following Temarii and Amadu's suspensions.
England, Russia, and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and
Netherlands/Belgium are contesting the 2018 finals, while the
United States, Qatar, Japan, South Korea and Australia are
bidding to stage the 2022 tournament.
Temarii had said on Tuesday he would not resign from FIFA's
executive committee despite being suspended.
In a statement issued through his lawyer in Paris, Temarii
said: "On November 18, 2010, the FIFA Ethics Committee cleared
me of all corruption charges but decided my suspension for one
year beginning on October 20, 2010, for charges whose nature and
grounds I still do not know.
"Since then, I am waiting for a reasoned decision in order
to exercise my right to appeal.
"Despite pressures and issues at stake for the OFC, I
decided not to waive this fundamental right to restore my
honour, dignity and integrity following the calumnious
accusations I suffered from the Sunday Times."