No World Cup vote for Oceania

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will not vote in the race to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, the ruling body has announced.

The OFC will relinquish their vote so that suspended president Reynald Temarii can exercise his right to appeal a one-year ban for breaking FIFA ethics rules.

Temarii, as a member of FIFA’s executive committee, was due to vote on the winning bids for the future tournaments but was made ineligible due to his suspension.

The OFC requested approval to install acting president David Chung in Thursday’s vote, but FIFA said Chung could only take part if Temarii waived his appeal.

Lawyers for the suspended president have informed the OFC that he intends to go ahead with his challenge, therefore silencing the OFC and striking a blow to Australia’s hopes of hosting the 2022 finals.

“I decided not to waive this fundamental right to restore my honour, dignity and integrity following the calumnious accusations I suffered,” Temarii said in a letter released by the OFC.

“I am waiting for a reasoned decision (from FIFA) in order to exercise my right to appeal.”

Chung said he understood the ‘difficult circumstances’ behind Temarii’s decision.

“OFC will not have a voice at the voting table in Zurich on December 2 but fully respects the decision made by Reynald Temarii,” Chung said in a statement.

Temarii was caught on video allegedly offering his World Cup vote in exchange for funding for a New Zealand football academy in an undercover sting by British newspaper The Sunday Times.

The former Tahiti international was cleared of corruption charges by FIFA’s ethics committee but nevertheless received a one-year ban for confidentiality breaches.