New Oceania chief Chung pledges support for Blatter

By Andrew Warshaw

January 16 – Acting President David Chung (pictured) has been elected to succeed the banned Reynald Temarii as head of the Oceania Football Confederation, strengthening the position of FIFA President Sepp Blatter in the process.

Papua New Guinea’s Chung was elected unopposed at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) congress after New Zealanders Frank van Hattum and Fred de Jong withdrew their candidacies.

Last month, Chung flew halfway round the world to try and ensure the OFC had a voice at the double ballot for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

He installed himself in the Savoy hotel in Zurich in the hope that Temarii, suspended by FIFA over the cash-for-votes scandal and therefore unable to vote, would bow to pressure to stand down as FIFA vice-president at the 11th hour, or at least withdraw his appeal against being banned.

When he did neither, after hours of brinkmanship Chung was forced to get back on a plane and return home, a hugely embarrassing episode that undermined the credibility of the smallest of FIFA’s confederations.

Although he cannot now influence the World Cup vote, Chung also takes over Temarii’s vice-presidency and pledged Oceania’s support for 74-year-old Blatter who, in typically clever timing, was present at the congress and announced that extra profits from the 2010 World Cup would be distributed across the Oceania region.

Blatter bids for a fourth term as FIFA President later this year and Chung told him: “We are indebted to you for your continued support.

“In return, I can say that on behalf of all member association Presidents we are behind you 100 per cent.”

And to his confederation, he added: “I thank you for entrusting me with the position of OFC President.

“You can rest assured that I will do everything possible to promote unity, solidarity and transparency.”

As for Temarii, he has gone ahead with his appeal against his 12-month suspension for breaching ethics guidelines even though Chung will hold the position until 2014.

Chung pledged to ensure the region remained independent and was not swallowed up by the larger Asian confederation.

“FIFA and Blatter always [tell] us not to give up OFC as a confederation,” Chung told delegates from the 11-member federations.

“Even to my last meeting with [the] general secretary [Jerome Valcke], he reminded me of that.

“Asia will never swallow the OFC.”

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