The Fiji National Sports Commission will seek an explanation about Vodafone Fijian Football coach Christophe Gamel’s red card in Fiji’s 1-1 draw with Tahiti last Friday.

Executive chairman Peter Mazey said he would ask the Fiji Football Association (FFA) to comment on the incident before issuing any official statements.

The Minister for Sports, Parveen Bala, also wants a briefing before commenting on the incident.

The coach was sent-off for arguing with referee Nawen Hopkins, following an unsuccessful penalty appeal.

Mr Bala said he had instructed the Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports, Maritino Nemani, to prepare a briefing for him.

The sports commission, which was established by Government in 2013 to distribute funding, has paid coach Gamel’s salary since March, 2017.

“It is certainly an interesting situation and I cannot recall any other officials in our sports teams receiving a red card,” Mr Mazey said.

“This is very much an internal matter and we will of course be asking Fiji Football to comment.”

Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel and chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf had not respond to requests for a comment by the time this edition went to press.

It is rare for coaches to get sent off the pitch for disciplinary reasons.

However, FIFA laws state that a referee can take action against team officials “who fail to act in a responsible manner and may expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds.”

Mr Gamel is no stranger to controversy. In January, five national youth footballers – namely Amena Bola, Kalaveti Sivoi, Kini Madigi, Simione Nabenu and Sekovu Finau – alleged the French coach assaulted them on January 16 after they allegedly failed a drug test. But a Fiji FA investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Three national women’s team players, who spoke to the Fiji Sun on the condition of anonymity, also alleged the coach demeaned and mocked them for their looks last year.

However, FFA president Patel said their claims would not be investigated because they did not lodge formal complaints.

Edited by Naisa Koro

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