FIFA suspends parliamentary candidate for three years [1]
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - 16:00. Updated on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 09:04.
'Ahongalu Fusimalohi, an Oceania Football Confederation OFC Member and the Head of Tonga's Football Federation has been banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee from any football related activity for three years and fined $US10,000.
The FIFA Ethics Committee announced its final decision 'Ahongalu on November 18, 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland.
'Ahongalu was among six FIFA officers who were earlier suspended from taking part in any football related activity on October 20, 2010, pending investigation into allegation of intention to miss use their executive voting rights.
The President of OFC and a FIFA Executive Committee member Reynald Temarii of Tahiti was among those who were suspended in October, but in the final decision of the FIFA ethics Committee Reynald was suspended for one-year from all football related activities and an appeal process is open to him.
The Acting President of OFC Mr David Chung said in Zurich, that OFC is satisfied with the process carried out by the FIFA Ethics Committee and will co-operate fully with the findings.
"Following a thorough review of the facts, the committee has cleared Mr. Temarii of corruption including Article 6 (Conduct towards government and private organizations), Article 10 (Accepting and giving gifts and other benefits), Article 11 (Bribery), Article 14 (Duty of disclosure and reporting) but found him in breach of the minor clauses - Article 3(General rules) and Article 9 (Loyalty and confidentiality), said Mr Chung.
In the meantime David Chung continues as Acting OFC President until further notice.
OFC Executive Committee will meet in Auckland on November 27, 2010 to analyse findings of the FIFA Ethics Committee and confirm the next course of action.
Meanwhile the Tonga Football Association announced on Monday November 22 that Lui 'Aho has been made the acting Head of Tonga's Football Federation.
Ngalu is a Candidate in this week's Parliamentary Election, contesting for the Tongatapu No. 4 Single Seat Constituency.