Titikaveka FC fined for boycott

The Titikaveka Football Club has been fined over its decision to boycott its final round match in the Lotto Premier Mens soccer competition.

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) decided it would fine the club for its actions which it said brought the code into disrepute.

Titikaveka accepted the fine and paid it automatically, when CIFA said it risked being excluded from the Knockout Cup Competition that began yesterday.

CIFA president Lee Harmon said the association had handed the club a modest fine on Wednesday afternoon for forfeiting Tuesdays rescheduled match against Tupapa-Maraerenga Football Club, but would not reveal the exact amount.

He said the fine was kept low because CIFA wanted to keep the club in the competition.

Titikaveka was given a 24-hour deadline to pay the fine, which it did immediately.

Harmon said CIFA was disappointed in the clubs decision to forfeit the match through non-attendance.

We were surprised by the move and just dont know what the intention was behind it, Harmon said.

Weve never seen it before a club plan to forfeit like this, he said.

Titikaveka senior mens player-coach Cameron Robertson said the forfeit was in protest at the way the domestic league was being run in light of international fixtures.

He said CIFA should be more constructive in structuring the domestic league to support the Cook Islands national team in its FIFA World Cup qualifying quest.

Robertson said the club was trying to make the point that the domestic league was creating congestion around the international fixture and effectively squandered the Cook Islands hoped of qualifying for the Oceania pool matches and the next stage of World Cup competition.

Robertson said the club would now focus on building up its ranks and helping bolster the domestic competition.