CIFA is disappointed that Tiraa Arere has decided to go on Facebook after he was suspended for a 10 – year period. In his video, Tiraa Arere had made some serious allegations which are false and defamatory.
Tiraa Arere was initially found by the CIFA Executive to breach in the followingareas;
1. Employment contract – Tiraa Aree failed to get the approval of the CIFA Executive for his employment contract. Instead, his original employment contract was signed by himself and witnessed by his daughter. Later, Tiraa Arere directed Vice President, Moeroa Tamangaro, to sign his employment contract with the General Secretary, Mii Savage as witness. The employment contract was never approved by the CIFA Executive Committee. It is important to note that all previous CIFA Presidents employment contracts, have been approved by the CIFA Executive Committee.
2. Tenancy Agreement – Tiraa Arere signed his tenancy agreement with the landlord and witnessed by a family member, without the approval of the CIFA Executive Committee. In addition, he informed everyone that he will move to Rarotonga and reside there and carry out football work as President. The reality was he barely lived in Rarotonga for the 6 months he was President and was a considerable loss to rental money to CIFA.
3. Interference with Judicial Bodies – Tiraa Arere as President, personally interfered by emailing CIFA staff giving advice and direction on a complaint with the DDC on 2 and 8 December 2022. As President, Tiraa Arere was suppose to be independent of the work and decisions of the CIFA Judicial bodies, as stipulated in the CIFA Constitution.
4. CIFA Forward TMSA Project – Tiraa Arere without consulting the CIFA Executive, advised FIFA to cancel the Project. This is after CIFA had spent $287,000 on the preliminary cost. This was done without CIFA Executive approval.
5. Interference with the selection of the U17 national team – Tiraa Arere interfered with the selection of players from his home island, who were not selected for the development tour in mid–2022. He failed to obtain the approval from the CIFA Executive.
6. Excessive Vodafone charges – Tiraa Arere had incurred over $3,000 of Vodafone data charges whilst in Qatar for four days during the World Cup.This is excessive expenditure that was not budgeted by CIFA.
7. Obstruction of CIFA judicial process during this review. Numerous emails were sent by Tiraa Arere to CIFA staff to try and stop this review. This breaches section 6 of the CIFA Code of Ethics.
On the last day of the 21 days limit, Tiraa Arere did not call an Executive Committee meeting to explain his actions on the above allegations. Instead, Tiraa Arere took the six CIFA Executive members, two senior CIFA staff and the Chairperson of DDC to the Ordinary Court. Article 57 of the CIFA Constitution (a) states, CIFA, its members, players, officials and match and player agents will not take any dispute to Ordinary Courts. This is also against OFC and FIFA Constitution.
During the Court proceedings, the DDC in its decision of 15 May 2023, banned Tiraa Arere for a 10 – year period, for taking the matter to Court.
On 2 October 2023, Justice Toogood concluded that the case by Tiraa Arere against CIFA and its officials were wrong and duly dismissed and directed that the proceeding shall be struck out.
CIFA would like to point out that any further false accusations and defamatory remarks by Tiraa Arere against CIFA and its officials, will face further Court actions.
The CIFA will conduct and oversee the election of a new Aitutaki Football Association President on Tuesday 16th January 2024 at 5pm.
CIFA Official Media Release.
