Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has welcomed the decision by the Samoa Sports Disputes Tribunal on Thursday 20 November 2008 to endorse the Normalisation Committee process at Samoa Football (Soccer) Federation (SFSF) to be effective immediately.
The Samoa Sports Disputes Tribunal finding has affirmed the decisions taken by the FIFA Emergency Committee on 9 June 2008 to install a Normalisation Committee at the SFSF. The OFC Executive Committee took the decision to suspend the SFSF on 5 October 2008 and the FIFA Executive Committee took the same decision on 24 October 2008.
OFC President/FIFA vice-president Reynald Temarii said more important than the decision itself, the Samoa football family now had an opportunity to rebuild a better future for thousands of children who would be involved in football activities in the years to come.
“It was very important for these issues to be decided upon by Samoan law instead of institutions from outside Samoa itself. But it is now time to rebuild football in Samoa and the establishment of the Normalisation Committee is a positive and strong step toward a bright new future,” Temarii said.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas said the decision would ensure the future development of football in Samoa was in safe hands.
“This is a great decision and it means FIFA and OFC can now assist the football community of Samoa to realise its undoubted potential.”
“FIFA and OFC will work out the next steps to implement the Normalisation Committee and restructure the member association, and build toward new elections and appoint a new management under interim chairman David Brand.”