Navua Football Club recently found itself under scrutiny after mistakenly fielding Simione Damuni, an ineligible player, in their 5-2 win over Nadi in the Extra Premier League. Damuni was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, but this went unnoticed when he played. Rajeev Prasad, the club’s president, explained that the club official tasked with checking player eligibility missed the suspension note from the Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) due to being busy.
Upon realizing the error, the team replaced Damuni at halftime after being notified by the Fiji FA. Prasad stated that the breach of the rules was unintentional. Following this, Nadi Football Association filed an official protest, which is currently under Fiji FA review. If the protest is upheld, Nadi could gain three points, influencing the league standings and possibly advancing Nadi’s position for the Inter-District Championship.
This oversight highlights ongoing issues within the league related to communication and ensuring compliance with regulations. Past incidents, such as Bua FC’s unnoticed positive drug tests due to an unopened email, suggest a systemic problem that needs to be addressed. Ensuring that eligibility and doping rules are stringently followed is crucial for maintaining the sport’s integrity.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for Navua on the importance of thorough administrative oversight. For Nadi, there’s a potential advantage if the ruling swings in their favor. As the league navigates this challenge, the focus remains on promoting fair play and sportsmanship. The decisions taken in this case may lead to more robust measures to prevent future occurrences and ensure the smooth running of the league.