logo
Fiji Football against election of leader with criminal conviction

Fiji Football against election of leader with criminal conviction

RNZ News05-06-2025
The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland
Photo:
AFP
The Fiji Football Association (FA) says it does not condone anyone with criminal convictions being part of their leadership set-up.
Chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf said in a media statement on Saturday that the controversial election of Aiyaz Mohammed Musa Umarji as vice-president west, during the Fiji FA Congress on 30 May in Suva, was not according to their laws.
He said article 46(6) of the Fiji FA statutes prohibits individuals previously found guilty of a criminal offence from holding executive office.
But according to the Football Association statement, Umarji is challenging this in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
He was sentenced in August 2023 to four years in prison but his jail time was reduced by six months after an appeal. He was released last October and deported home.
He argues his guilty plea, conviction and three-year and six-month imprisonment in New Zealand - on three counts of importing Class B controlled drugs - cannot have an impact on his eligibility because the offence is not football related.
The Fiji FA is opposing this "because there is no such a limitation in the FijiFA prohibition".
Umarji was initially disqualified from candidacy by Fiji FA's governance committee under article 46(6), but the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a provisional order permitting him to contest the election.
The CAS president said the decision to grant the requested relief "does not amount to a legitimisation or trivialisation of the importance of maintaining the highest ethical and integrity standards".
"The present decision should not be seen as an act of leniency towards any potentially criminal conduct that may be incompatible with [those] standards."
The Fiji FA has decided that the new vice president will not be declared elected, has not assumed office and his eligibility remains under review by CAS.
But it also acknowledges that a majority of members at the Congress voted for Umarji for the vice-president west position.
"We respectfully urge the public and the media to await the final decision of the CAS Panel, which will comprehensively resolve the matter of eligibility."
Aiyaz Umarji directed a request for comment to his lawyer, who has not responded to
RNZ Pacific'
s questions.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Australia opens 2025 Pacific Engagement Visa registration for Pacific and Timor-Leste
Australia opens 2025 Pacific Engagement Visa registration for Pacific and Timor-Leste

RNZ News

time2 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Australia opens 2025 Pacific Engagement Visa registration for Pacific and Timor-Leste

Australian National University's Professor Stephen Howes says the Pacific Engagement Visa "indicates that this new visa is here to stay". Photo: Facebook / Pacific Engagement Visa Australia's Pacific Engagement stream visa (PEV) ballot for 2025 is now open. The PEV programme allocates up to 3000 visas from nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to live and work in Australia permanently. The Australian Department of Home Affair says the ballot is open for registrations from 28 July until 25 August 2025. The2025 ballot and registrations will not include the ballot and registrations from 2024 in the draw. "To be able to apply for a PEV, you must first be selected in the random ballot," the Department of Home Affairs stated. "Eligible citizens from participating countries can enter - people of all skill levels, genders and occupations are welcome." The participating countries for the PEV 2025 program are: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Fiji: Concerns Over Suspected Price Manipulation Ahead Of VAT Reduction
Fiji: Concerns Over Suspected Price Manipulation Ahead Of VAT Reduction

Scoop

time4 hours ago

  • Scoop

Fiji: Concerns Over Suspected Price Manipulation Ahead Of VAT Reduction

26 July As Fijians anticipate relief from the upcoming VAT reduction, slated to drop from 15% to 12.5% on 1 August 2025 - discovery of unjustified price increases by some eateries have sparked serious concern. The Consumer Council of Fiji has uncovered evidence suggesting businesses are pre-emptively raising prices to offset the tax cut, effectively depriving consumers of the intended financial benefits. Through 530 market surveillances conducted before and after the National Budget announcement, the Council identified a troubling trend: certain food establishments have deliberately inflated prices in recent weeks leading up to the VAT reduction, in order to negate effectivelythe intended consumer benefit. 'This is a strategic manipulation of pricing,' said Seema Shandil, CEO of the Consumer Council of Fiji. 'By raising prices now, these eateries can later claim to have passed on savings while keeping actual costs the same or even higher, undermining the intended financial relief for consumers. This behaviour is not only unethical but directly sabotages the government's policy intent to alleviate the cost-of-living burden for ordinary Fijians'. Notable examples include a fast-food outlet's curry meal rising from $2 to $3, a Suva restaurant's two-person meal increasing from $49.95 to $54, and menu hikes at multiple food courts. A prominent restaurant chain also raised its king-sized pizza price to $56.30, while a major supermarket's chicken pie now costs $9.95 up from $7.95. The Council urges transparency and accountability to ensure the VAT reduction delivers its promised advantages to the public. 'We are extremely concerned that such behaviour not only rips off consumers but also erodes public trust in the fairness of the market. The VAT reduction has been announced to provide financial relief to Fijians, not to pad the margins of restaurants and eateries,' Ms. Shandil said. The Council notes that food establishments are often harder to monitor due to variable pricing and the ease with which cost justifications, such as ingredient or labor costs, can be used to mask unjustified increases. When traders manipulate prices to suit their own interests, especially under the guise of 'justified' cost increases, it sends a clear message that consumer welfare is secondary. This erosion of trust damages the relationship between businesses and the public, and if left unchecked, can weaken confidence in the broader market system. The Council firmly believes that ethical conduct and transparency must be upheld, particularly during times when government initiatives are aimed at easing the cost-of-living burden for ordinary Fijians. The Council is urging all traders and businesses to act responsibly and ensure that the benefits of the upcoming VAT reduction are fully passed on to consumers. This is not just a matter of regulatory compliance, it reflects their broader duty of care and ethical responsibility to the public. As essential players in the economy, businesses must align their pricing practices with the government's objective of easing the cost of living for all Fijians. Absorbing the VAT cut for profit undermines consumer trust and defeats the purpose of a policy designed to provide financial relief. Consumers are the backbone of every business, and treating them fairly through transparent and ethical pricing is vital, not only for maintaining customer loyalty and brand integrity, but also for upholding the principles of a just and fair marketplace. Consumers are also encouraged to retain receipts and, where possible, compare past and present prices of the same item or meal. If a price increase is suspected, consumers should keep both the old and new receipts or take photos showing the change and report the matter to the Consumer Council of Fiji by calling toll-free 155 or emailing complaints@

Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 28 July
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 28 July

RNZ News

time9 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 28 July

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa scores a try for the ACT Brumbies. Photo: Photosport Former Wallaby Issak Fines-Leleiwasa is joining the Fijian Drua for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. Fines-Leleiwasa has featured for the Western Force in the past three years and had declared his intentions to play for Fiji, with his three-year international stand-down period coming to an end in October 2026. The 29-year-old made his Wallabies debut against France in 2023. He is eligible to play for Fiji through his Fijian-born father. The first eight teams to compete in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League, due to kick off in January 2026, will be announced next month. OFC said its club licensing committee will review the assessments and recommend the successful applicants to the OFC executive committee for their decision. There are 13 clubs in the running, with four out of New Zealand, two each from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, plus one club each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu. OFC professional league manager Stuart Larman said the the clubs have all worked hard to meet the requirements of the club licensing regulations. Tonga National Rugby League is seeking a new women's coach for the Pacific Championships. The person will take care of Tonga in their Pacific Cup fixtures against Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea, in October and November. Applications close on 1 August. Meanwhile, Melbourne Storm assistant coach Ryan Hinchcliffe will join Toa Samoa's head coach Ben Gardiner as an assistant for the men's Pacific Cup. Toa Samoa will meet Tonga and New Zealand in the competition. Fiji's under-20 men's rugby team will be part of the expanded World Rugby Under-20 Championship in 2026, scheduled to be hosted by Georgia. World Rugby announced the prestigious age-grade tournament has been expanded from the current 12 teams to 16 next year. Fiji, as the Oceania champion, will join hosts Georgia as well as USA, Japan and Uruguay at the event. World Rugby's Nigel Cass said the expansion is a significant step forward in the mission to enhance global competitiveness and provide more young players with the opportunity to shine on the international stage. The Vanuatu Judo Federation says they need government to invest in judo development, especially securing proper training facilities. VJF Vice President Nazario said a lot more success would be achieved with proper judo facilities or dojo. Vanuatu Daily Post reported the Vanuatu judo team, who trained without proper facilities, returned from the Pacific Mini Games in Palau with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Nazario said a lot of young athletes are taking up judo and a proper training facility is needed to better prepare judokas for upcoming tournaments. Fiji is to host two major futsal tournaments later this year. Oceania Football said the OFC Futsal Men's Cup will be held in Suva in September - after the tournament was moved from Solomon Islands. The OFC said the decision was made with member associations, considering the logistics of hosting the competition in Honiara. Fiji will also host the Futsal Men's Champions League, in late November, in Suva.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store