The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has yet to formally address the allegations raised by Malolo, the Skipper Cup champions, regarding unpaid gate receipts from the recent Skipper Cup final. The incident is currently under legal review, prompting the union to delay its response.
FRU Acting Chief Executive Officer Koli Sewabu has confirmed that a detailed response is in preparation but will only be communicated once the legal considerations are resolved. He explained, “In regard to the Malolo incident, I won’t be able to comment on the details of it, because at the moment I’m awaiting a final green light from our legal team before we respond to Malolo and our stakeholders in the media.”
The delay in addressing this situation has intensified public discourse surrounding issues of transparency and governance within the sport, leading to calls for clarity from various stakeholders. Sewabu emphasized the necessity of handling the matter effectively before the year concludes, ensuring proper resolution.
Moreover, he highlighted that this incident is part of broader challenges the FRU has faced throughout the season, particularly in governance and compliance. “There have been a lot of issues this year with regard to our game management, our terms of participation, and compliance issues from our unions,” Sewabu noted.
Despite the current turmoil, the FRU is optimistic about moving past this controversy. The union aims to enhance professionalism and improve systems within the sport as they prepare for the upcoming season, which represents a hopeful step towards restoring confidence among stakeholders.