Oceania president quits amid Fifa probe and funding cut
Oceania confederation president David Chung has resigned as a Fifa vice president and a member of its ruling council after an audit of the confederation he led found ‘‘potential irregularities’’ and funding was cut by football’s world governing body.
Chung quit after seven years as president of the Oceania Football Confederation, which includes New Zealand, for what were described as ‘‘personal reasons’’.
Fifa acknowledged later in the day it has concerns about the management of the OFC under Chung but did not accuse him of wrongdoing.
‘‘OFC has been recently the subject of a review conducted by an external audit firm on Fifa’s behalf,’’ Fifa said in a statement. ‘‘It has shown potential irregularities in the construction process of the OFC Home of Football.
‘‘The review findings, which were not focusing on specific individuals,
OFC has been recently the subject of a review. Fifa statement
led to the temporary suspension of funding to OFC. The process is now ongoing and the Fifa administration will continue to support OFC in building and improving their internal controls.’’
Fifa would not say whether any specific individuals are being investigated. The OFC executive committee is due to meet today.
Chung has also been president of the Papua New Guinea Football Association since 2004.
- AAP