Samoa soccer chief to appeal to court over debt
Updated
The president of Samoa's soccer federation has refused to relinquish his position, denying mismanagement and preparing to appeal to sport's highest court.
Oceania Football Confederation secretary general Tai Nicholas told Radio Australia Sport's Tanya O'Shea that investigators have found debts of more than $US600 million, after the Samoa soccer federation took-out a series of unsecured loans.
The sport's world body, FIFA, sent a team to Samoa a fortnight ago to investigate.
Last week a split emerged in local soccer, when some club leaders alleged misappropriation of funds and six board members resigned.
Samoa's prime minister encouraged the federation president, Toleafoa Tautulu Roebeck, to co-operate with investigators, allowing them to search soccer offices.
Mr Nicholas says Mr Roebeck is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be allowed to stay in charge.
He says FIFA and Mr Roebeck, awaiting an official delegation's arrival on July 12, are under advisement with their lawyers.
