MEDIA STATEMENT
The Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) wishes to clarify recent speculation and public commentary regarding the participation of Mr. Aiyaz Musa Umarji in the election for the position of Vice President (West), held during the 2025 Fiji FA Congress on 30 May 2025.
Article 46(6) of the Fiji FA Statutes prohibits individuals previously found guilty of a criminal offence from holding executive office. Mr Umarji and the district nominating and supporting him for the position are aware of this prohibition.
This prohibition is challenged in CAS by Mr Umarji on the basis that his guilty plea, conviction and 3 year and 6 month imprisonment (for three counts of importing Class B controlled drugs (pseudoephedrine), totalling 40.68 kg with an estimated NZD 5–6 million street value), cannot have an impact on his eligibility because the offence is not football related.
The Fiji Football Association is vigorously opposing this because there is no such a limitation in the FijiFA prohibition and indeed the basis itself is a reprehensible because it would mean that offences such as sexual assault, rape, terrorism and other serious offences would be excusable if it was not football related.
Mr. Umarji was initially disqualified from candidacy by Fiji FA’s Governance Committee under Article 46(6).
However, on 28 May 2025, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a provisional order permitting Mr. Umarji to contest the election. The order was made on procedural grounds and does not represent a final ruling on the legitimacy or legality of his candidacy.
The CAS President specifically stated:
“The decision to grant the requested relief does not amount to a legitimisation or trivialisation of the importance of maintaining the highest ethical and integrity standards… The present decision should not be seen as an act of leniency towards any potentially criminal conduct that may be incompatible with [those] standards.”
In compliance with this interim ruling, Mr. Umarji was allowed to stand for election. However:
• He has not been declared elected.
• He has not assumed office.
• His eligibility remains under review by CAS.
We wish to clarify that Fiji FA did not permit Mr. Umarji to stand by its own discretion. His candidacy was enabled only because of the binding provisional order from CAS, which Fiji FA is legally obligated to comply with under international football governance frameworks.
Public and Government Concern
Fiji FA acknowledges the concern raised by members of the public, senior figures within the football community, and national leaders.
Fiji FA views these developments with utmost seriousness. We wish to assure all stakeholders that:
• We remain committed to upholding the principles of clean sport and ethical leadership.
• We are continuing to vigorously defend the position that Mr. Umarji is ineligible under Article 46(6).
• No person convicted of a serious criminal offence should be entrusted with a senior leadership role in national football.
Commitment to Reform
At the same time, the Fiji Football Association has to unfortunately acknowledge that a majority members at the Congress have voted for Mr Umarji and this clearly shows that we need to educate our members on the seriousness of drug abuse and the perception that an organisation like Fiji Football Association must give to the members of the public and to all people who work with, participate and send their children and family members to become part of our larger football community.
Prior to the Congress we did send the attached circular to all our members in hopes that they would voice the integrity and reputation that we intend to hold for Fiji Football Association. A copy of the circular is attached.
Fiji FA will be launching a nationwide Integrity and Leadership Awareness Campaign, aimed at:
• Educating all member associations about the impact of governance decisions on public trust.
• Reinforcing the importance of ethical criteria in the nomination and voting process.
• Preventing future incidents that may place the sport or the institution’s reputation at risk.
We respectfully urge the public and the media to await the final decision of the CAS Panel, which will comprehensively resolve the matter of eligibility.
