The Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) has ruled in favor of Nadi, upholding their protest against Navua for fielding a suspended player, following their loss in the Extra Premier League (EPL) match held at Uprising Sports Complex. Consequently, the protest has resulted in the match points being awarded to Nadi.
Fiji FA CEO Mohammed Yusuf confirmed that the protest was handled promptly after Nadi lodged it early on Monday. The issue arose when Navua included a player who had been suspended, violating the league regulations. Yusuf pointed out that the Integrity Committee of the Fiji FA is now responsible for investigating how the suspended player was allowed to participate, with the findings to be reviewed at the forthcoming board meeting on Saturday.
The Fiji FA Board’s decision grants Nadi three points, while deducting them from Navua, altering the league standings. This incident underscores the importance of adhering to player eligibility rules to maintain the integrity of the competition.
In related developments, Yusuf announced that a Premier Division team and five Senior Division teams will face sanctions due to incomplete regional club competitions. These sanctions are expected to be enforced following the FMF Inter-District Championship (IDC) scheduled in Ba next month. Moreover, Bua and Northland Tailevu have been disqualified from this year’s IDC for non-compliance with regional league regulations. The draws for the IDC pools are set to occur today in Suva.
Previously, similar scenarios have resulted in point deductions across various districts, as the Fiji FA maintains strict guidelines to ensure league integrity. Districts like Navua had seen points deducted in other instances for failing to follow compliance regulations, demonstrating the Fiji FA’s consistent enforcement of rules.
This development emphasizes the dedication of the Fiji FA to uphold fair play and enforce regulations uniformly, thereby nurturing a competitive and respectful sporting environment.