The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Aiyaz Mohammed Musa Umarji is eligible to run for the position of Vice President (West) of the Fiji Football Association (FFA) in the upcoming elections. This decision was reached following a hearing that involved legal representatives from Umarji and the FFA, all located in Switzerland.
Scheduled for tomorrow, the elections have been in the spotlight after it was previously announced by the FFA Governance Committee that Umarji was not on the candidate list due to a past conviction related to drug importation in 2019. Umarji had pleaded guilty to charges involving pseudoephedrine and was sentenced to four years in prison, later reduced to three and a half years on appeal. He was released on parole in September 2024 after serving a portion of his sentence.
The ruling from CAS, penned by Corinne Schmidhauser, President of the Appeals Arbitration Division, noted that the FFA Governance Committee’s decision to deny Umarji’s eligibility was stayed, allowing him to participate in the elections. However, if he is elected, he will not assume office until a conclusive decision is made regarding his appeal.
Furthermore, the CAS ruling highlighted that parallel investigations by FIFA, concerning potential breaches of its Code of Ethics, were closed with no findings of wrongdoing on Umarji’s part.
This ruling comes as Fiji prepares for what appears to be a competitive election cycle, with various candidates vying for several vice presidential roles within the FFA. The engagement of a diverse slate of candidates including notable names reflects a promising opportunity for leadership renewal within the organization. The elections could pave the way for enhanced strategies in Fijian football governance, with hope for a more robust future in the sport.
As football in Fiji stands at a crucial juncture, the outcome of these elections could significantly impact the sport’s direction. The community’s participation illustrates a collective ambition to uplift Fijian football, which is vital for the sport’s growth and development both locally and internationally.
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