The Fiji Football Association is set to announce the eight teams that will participate in next month’s FMF Inter-District Championship (IDC) to be held in Ba. Following the conclusion of the Extra Premier League (EPL), the top eight teams have qualified for the Premier Division of the IDC, although some may face point deductions for non-compliance with regional club competition requirements.
Fiji FA CEO Mohammed Yusuf mentioned that teams failing to complete their regional club competitions will be penalized, potentially altering the points table. The confirmed qualifiers will be announced today. Currently, the top eight teams are Ba, Rewa, Labasa, Lautoka, Navua, Suva, Nadroga, and Nasinu, while Nadi and Tavua did not make the cut.
Earlier this year, the Fiji FA issued strict warnings to member associations that failure to comply with regional club leagues could jeopardize their qualification. Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel emphasized there would be no leniency for non-compliance this year, advocating for strict adherence to league commitments.
The FMF IDC is scheduled from October 7-12 at 4R Stadium and Govind Park. Pool draws will take place tomorrow. In recent EPL matches, Rewa defeated Nasinu 2-0, Navua triumphed over Nadi 5-2, and Suva narrowly beat Lautoka 2-1. Additionally, Labasa defeated Nadroga 5-2, and Ba secured a 2-1 victory against Tavua on Saturday.
With these regulations and consequences in place, the Fiji FA aims to ensure a fair competition for the IDC, stressing the importance of regional compliance to uphold the integrity and competitive spirit of the tournament.