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17 March, 2026, 9:16 pm
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17 March, 2026, 9:16 pm Central - 24°C Rain

Sports Council Board meet to discuss serious concerns

Sports Council Board meet to discuss serious concerns

By Vijay Narayan
18/02/2026
The Fiji Sports Council Board hold a meeting to discuss various allegations against the former Executive Chairman and current CEO of the Council, Gilbert Vakalalabure.

The issues mainly deal with alleged conflict of interest and decisions being made without the Board's approval.

The whistleblower who is a former staff member maintains many decisions being made were not approved by the Board which included business class travel under the Sports Council contra deal with Fiji Airways for Vakalalabure, his wife, the Sports Minister, Jese Saukuru and his wife's travel without the Sports Council's Board approval.

This contra deal was for the Sports Council.

It has also come to light that the Sports Council's grassroots 7s tournaments which cost a lot of money was being organised without the Council's Board approval, and the team going to NZ for a tournament there last year, also did not have Board approval.

The meeting is being called after some members requested that a meeting should be held to look into these serious issues.

Questions are also being raised on whether the government is seriously looking into these code of conduct and conflict of interest related issues.

Saukuru has not made any comments to fijivillage News after initially confirming that he and his wife travelled in business class under the Fiji Airways and Sports Council contra agreement. Saukuru says he is willing to pay back the money for his wife's travel. 

We have also contacted Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka and Vakalalabure.

They have not made any comments so far.

Stay with us for developments.
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