By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) general secretary Tai Nicholas has been given a prominent place on one of FIFA’s four new anti-corruption platforms despite facing contempt proceedings from the Fijian Government.
The New Zealander has been given a place on FIFA’s Revision of Statutes Task Force entrusted with reviewing the rule book as part of FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s cleanup campaign.
The move comes as the Fijian Government announced that legal action was being taken over published remarks made by Nicholas about the Fijian judicial system.
“The High Court of Fiji has granted leave to the Attorney- General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum to issue contempt proceedings against the General Secretary of Oceania Football Confederation, Tai Nicholas,” a Fijian Ministry of Information statement said.
“Accordingly, the High Court has granted leave for service on Tai Nicholas out of jurisdiction by way of substituted service, in this case, by registered mail.
“The registered mail was sent to Tai Nicholas on December 6, 2011.”
The proceedings arise from an article published in the Fiji Times in which Nicholas apparently questioned the judiciary system in Fiji, one of the OFC’s key members.
“The Attorney-General views these comments as scandalising the courts in Fiji, in that they are a scurrilous attack on the judiciary, thereby lowering the authority of the judiciary in Fiji,” the aforementioned statement said..
“The proceedings against Tai Nicholas will be called again in the High Court on December 23, 2011.”
Nicolas is understood to take the view that his suitability for various FIFA positions has no connection whatsoever with the Fiji Government’s stance.
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