By David Owen
November 24 – The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has called a meeting of its Executive Committee on Saturday (November 27), amid growing expectations that moves may be made to ensure the region retains a say in where the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are played.
It is thought that the meeting, in Auckland on November 27, may pave the way for David Chung, currently acting OFC President, to assume the role on FIFA’s Executive Committee until recently fulfilled by Reynald Temarii, one of the individuals affected by the recent Sunday Times investigation.
FIFA’s Ethics Committee announced last week that Temarii would be suspended from all football-related activity for a year, apparently depriving Oceania of its sole vote in the World Cup allocation process.
For Chung, who is from Papua New Guinea, to participate as the 23rd voter in the decisive ballots of FIFA Executive Committee members in Zurich on December 2, Temarii would almost certainly have to forgo his right to appeal the Ethics Committee’s decision.
There has as yet been no indication that the Tahitian official is prepared to adopt this course.
However, in a recent statement, Chung emphasised that Temarii had been cleared of corruption, but found in breach of “minor” clauses.
Chung also said that any decision Temarii might take to pursue the appeal process open to him would be respected.
If a representative from Oceania is allowed to vote on December 2, it would probably be good news for Australia’s 2022 bid, which could almost certainly rely on the OFC’s support.
Oceania’s intentions in the Europe-focused 2018 contest would, though, be much harder to surmise, with Chung likely to be inundated by last-minute appeals from bid leaders conscious that any and every vote could be vital.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734850615labto1734850615ofdlr1734850615owedi1734850615sni@n1734850615ewo.d1734850615ivad1734850615