Courtesy: Port Vila Presse

Vanuatu Football Federation provincial rulings

By Vanuatu Independent


The Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) wishes to inform al Provincial Football Association, Football Administrators, and Futsal Associations and Futsal Clubs that, in the absence of any established or registered Futsal leagues, Womens Football Leagues, or Beach Soccer Leagues in the Provinces, the VFF hereby issues the following Communique.

Considering the situation of Futsal in Vanuatu, and in keeping within the spirit of 'Fair Play' as promoted by FIFA, and also to recognize the importance of developing sports in the Provinces,


VFF will not allow urban Futsal or Women's teams or players to play on behalf of Provinces
VFF does not recognize Futsal Womens Football and Beach Football as credible Provincial Sports to be included in the PENAMA Provincial Games.

The Reasons for this decision follow:

Allowing licensed players or team from urban areas to bear the name of provinces, is seen to be contrary to the principle of Provincial Sports Competition, as it will really be a competition of teams in the same League or Association.
Port Vila Football Association is a recognized body and it has the right to make a selection to represent it and it would be unfair to have its squad play players play for other Provinces.
Furthermore it will only delay or prevent the development of Futsal, Women's or Beach Football, or any other any other sports within Provincial Associations.
Given that the award of medals is a recognition of sports development and achievement in the Provinces, awarding medals to Provincial teams made up of players registered in another Provincial Association. It is therefore un-sporting to allow Provincial Associations to 'borrow' teams from other Associations for the sake of medals.
While the Provincial Games Charter permits the 'transfer' of players to play for another Provincial Team, it will only do this to strengthen an existing Provincial Team. Transferring players can only transfer the licenses and registration of players to another Futsal League or Association.
As a matter of public Liability, someone needs to take the responsibility for players and teams, but without existing Futsal Structures in place in Provinces, the welfare and insurance of players are placed in question.
Furthermore, the VFF is aware that Futsal was adopted as a demonstration event at the Tafea games in 2003. Since then, there has been no serious attempt to develop the sport in any other Provinces. Such developments would have given merit and argument for Futsal becoming fully integrated into the Provincial Games Charter.

While VFF remains a credible partner to the Provincial Games Council, VFF will not give recognition to Futsal becoming an event in the upcoming Provincial Games in PENAMA.
However, it remains at the discretion of the Provincial Games Council and the PENAMA GAMES Organising committee to include Futsal, Women's Football, or Beach Soccer as demonstration sports.

Hopefully, having the sport as a demonstrator sport for a third time will provide impetus and determination to all Provinces to give serious consideration to developing Futsal towards the next Provincial Games.





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com