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By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 1 – The numbers of voters at tomorrow’s double World Cup ballot will remain at 22 after Reynald Temarii dramatically refused to resign from FIFA’s Executive Committee leaving Oceania without a say in deciding the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
After days of negotiations, including parachuting in a possible replacement for Temarii, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) confirmed it will not be taking part in the secret ballot.
Tahiti’s Temarii was suspended by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, along with Amos Adamu of Nigeria, following the ‘cash for votes’ scandal that rocked football’s world governing body.
The OFC’s acting head David Chung was expected to take Temarii’s place after being appointed by his confederation in an emergency meeting last weekend.
So confident were the OFC of being able to cast their sole vote that Chung arrived in Zurich yesterday and had been preparing to step into Temarii’s shoes at the eleventh hour.
But after hours of discussion between all parties, Temarii decided he would press ahead with his appeal against his suspension, ruling out any possibility of being replaced.
An OFC statement said: “The OFC can confirm that it has received a communique from Reynald Temarii’s legal team stating that Mr. Temarii will exercise his right of appeal in relation to the recent ruling by the FIFA Ethics Committee.
“OFC respects this decision as it is a fundamental human right to appeal after such a case.
“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.
“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.”
Chung, who had been locked in talks with OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas at their Zurich hotel through the night to try and find an alternative way forward, conceded his exhaustive trip had ultimately proved fruitless.
“OFC will not have a voice at the voting table in Zurich on the 2nd of December but fully respects the decision made by Reynald Temarii and his legal team under difficult circumstances,” he said.
Through his lawyer, Temarii said he had thought long and hard about the process and hinted that he had been put under under undue pressure.
“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 which nature and grounds I still ignore,” the statement said.
“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 honor, dignity and integrity following the calumnious accusations I suffered from the Sunday Times.”
Ironically, Temarii’s statement recalled the infamous incident over the 2006 World Cup when Oceania’s sole representative Charles Dempsey, suddenly abstained having been specifically asked by his confederation to vote for South Africa.
Dempsey’s decision helped Germany pip South Africa as host nation and caused widespread global condemnation.
Whilst it is hard to gauge how Chung might have voted for 2018, Temarii’s decision to go ahead with his appeal was a huge blow for 2022 candidates Australia who would have been assured of his support as they desperately sought backing in the final 24 hours of lobbying.
Even yesterday afternoon, Australian bid chief Frank Lowy told reporters he was confident of 23 voting members being able to take part on Thursday.
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