A document detailing payment reconciliation between the Fiji Sports Council (FSC) and the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has revealed a deduction of $21,957.51, attributed to gate loss from a Pacific Nations Cup match, from the total ticket sales of the Skipper Cup final. The Skipper Cup final generated total ticket sales of $84,575, from which the FSC deducted its commission.
This gate loss occurred during the August clash between the Flying Fijians and Tonga, prompting concerns regarding the practice of using funds from a domestic competition to offset losses incurred in an entirely different event.
Koli Sewabu, the FRU Chief Executive Officer, clarified in an interview that the union reached out to the FSC as soon as they noticed the gate loss included in the financial documentation. He stated, “We immediately called them and we told them that it shouldn’t be part of the things they take off in the gate takings because it is separate.” He confirmed that the FSC would now bill the FRU separately for the gate losses, ensuring that the amount deducted would be credited back to the domestic competition’s gate shares.
Sewabu indicated that the FRU was initially unaware that the Pacific Nations Cup gate loss was included in the reconciliation document and acted promptly to rectify the situation. He emphasized that the gate loss should not have impacted the financial dynamics of the domestic competition, reinforcing the distinction between national and domestic rugby events.
The financial document also indicated that the FSC was due to receive $46,653.74 from the total ticket sales, while the FRU’s portion would amount to $37,921.26. This incident illustrates the need for clear financial practices and transparency between sporting councils, ensuring that funds allocated to domestic competitions are not unjustly affected by outside financial losses.
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