The Oceania Football Confederation or OFC, has issued a media statement, clarifying the position of PNG Football Association President, David Chung.
This comes in response to an article written by online publication , Inside World Football, which claims Chung’s election to the presidency of the PNGFA was illegal.
The OFC however, has stated that the election process was conducted in accordance with FIFA Statutes, and no funds were used by Mr Chung leading up to the election which sees him as the OFCs longest serving president.
The PNG Football Association, also refutes the claims by the online magazine.
The OFC response stated:
The article lacks balance as Mr Nicholson never offered the opportunity to the PNGFA or Mr David Chung to respond to the allegations made against him in this article.
- The PNGFA and its Electoral Committee believe that the Congress and the subsequent election was held in accordance with PNGFA Statutes.
- This was endorsed by FIFA and the High Court in Port Moresby following an application for an injunction by one of the suspended members where the High Court found they have no legal standing.
- As of today, no member or official, in particular Kapi Natto, has lodged a formal letter of complaint with FIFA, OFC or PNGFA. Nor have they lodged any appeal or written complaint with the relevant appeal bodies available to them which includes the PNGFA Appeal Committee, PNGFA Electoral Appeal Committee, FIFA, OFC or the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- The Football Federation of Papua New Guinea (FFPNG) remains an unrecognised sporting body which is operating illegally – as per the statement made by OFC General Secretary Mr Tai Nicholas on 5 April 2017.
In particular, the PNGFA and Mr Chung refute the allegations made by the former FIFA Development Officer for OFC, Shaun Easthope, who has made unsubstantiated claims that Mr Chung used FIFA funds to influence the election.
Easthope, when asked by FIFA to substantiate these allegations, could not produce any such evidence and his comments in fact come as a disgruntled former consultant of FIFA
SOURCE: OFC Media
