The case filed by Aiyaz Mohammed Musa Umarji has been withdrawn in the Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal challenging his disqualification to be the Fiji FA Vice President under Article 46(6) of the Fiji Football Association's Statutes; therefore, the case is now closed, and an award on costs will be rendered in due course.
Musa was convicted for importing 40.68kg of pseudoephedrine into New Zealand with an estimated street value of NZ$6 million.
He was challenging the Fiji FA Statutes that prohibit individuals previously found guilty of a criminal offence from holding executive office, on the grounds that his guilty plea, conviction, and 3-year-and-6-month imprisonment in Auckland Prison should not impact his eligibility, as the offence is not football-related.
Fiji FA CEO Mohammad Yusuf says Musa’s conviction for the importation of pseudoephedrine, a substance closely monitored within global anti-doping frameworks, cannot be dismissed as a private or non-football matter.
He says offences of this nature directly undermine the integrity standards required of football officials, and the Fiji FA will not tolerate such conduct.
He adds that this is precisely why Article 46(6) exists, and members and delegates are expected to respect and uphold it.
Yusuf says that, in accordance with the Fiji FA Code of Ethics, all conduct and statements given in connection with this matter will now be reviewed, and any breaches will be referred to the Ethics Committee.
He says these steps are essential to safeguarding the integrity of football administration in Fiji.
The CEO says the effect of the appeal’s withdrawal confirms that the challenge to the decision of the Fiji FA Governance Committee dated 27 May 2025, as well as the provisional CAS order that allowed him to contest the May 2025 election, have now lapsed.
He says Musa was never declared elected, and the Fiji FA will now take the necessary further steps in accordance with its Statutes.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
