Suspended soccer players will not feature in Courts IDC - Yusuf

The suspended soccer players who have challenged Fiji Football Association’s decision in regards to their suspension will not be able to play in the Courts IDC even if the Independent Disciplinary Committee overturns Fiji FA’s decisions.

This is according to Fiji FA’s CEO Mohammed Yusuf who adds if the players are cleared, there will not be enough time to register them as there are some processes which will take time.

The players who are challenging Fiji FA’s decision include Ba’s Manasa Nawakula and Saula Waqa who have also filed constitutional redress cases in court against the Fiji FA’s President, Rajesh Patel and CEO Mohammed Yusuf.

Lawyer, Neel Shivam who is the chair of Fiji FA’s Independent Disciplinary Committee says they have heard arguments brought forward by 13 players who were suspended earlier this year by the Fiji FA.

According to the Fiji FA, these players tested positive for using marijuana in Fiji FA competitions.

Shivam says the Fiji FA also made representations and the committee will now deliberate on the submissions before coming out with judgments.

They had tested positive for using marijuana and were suspended from playing all levels of soccer for 3 years after this year’s Battle of the Giants in August.

The Courts IDC kicks off next Tuesday at the ANZ Stadium and you can catch the live commentaries of the Suva-Nasinu match at 12.30pm, Ba-Nadi game at 4.30pm and Rewa-Lautoka match at 7pm.