OFC President Reynald Temarii. Photo / Shane Wenzlick
Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii may have been an unwitting and innocent party in Fifa's determination to deal to four Africans who were found to have breached Fifa's code of ethics.
Temarii told the Herald he did not know if that was the case but confirmed "there is a
rumour of that".
Indeed, it appears Temarii has been "stitched up" by Fifa's Ethics Committee if the evidence he presented is to be believed. He copped a one-year ban from all football activities and a 5000 Swiss francs ($6500) fine for alleged corruption and bribery charges relating to a sting by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper in which they insisted Temarii had agreed to accept a US$3 million ($3.86 million) payout in return for his support in voting for the United States as hosts of the 2022 World Cup.
In presenting their case to Fifa, the Times showed just four of 98 minutes of video recorded at the Oceania Football Confederation headquarters in Auckland. They undertook the interview in full view of the OFC staff. Other such "stings" were undertaken in bars and cafes. Temarii is set to take defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
Backing Temarii's claims of innocence was the statement from Fifa which cleared him of any bribery and corruption charges. The ban, Fifa said, was for a "breach of confidentiality" but without any evidence of that.
"They have five days to give me a letter to explain why I have been banned," said Temarii.
Temarii will then have 10 days to appeal but with that appeal to be heard by a Fifa committee, Temarii might be forced to take his case to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport.
His co-accused, Africans Amos Adamu (Nigeria), Slim Aloulou (Tunisia), Amadou Diakite (Mali) and Ismael Bhamjee (Botswana) and Tonga's Ahongalu Fusimalohi all copped fines of 10,000 Swiss francs and bans of between two and four years.
While the ban remains - Temarii is out until October 20 next year - he can have no contact with the game.
