Fiji Sports Council cites miscommunication with security over media access

The Fiji Sports Council says a miscommunication with security personnel led to journalists being turned away from the National Stadium today.

Chief operations officer Litia Senibulu said there was no directive to ban the media from covering events at council facilities.

Her comments follow an incident in which several journalists, including those from this newspaper, were stopped at the gate while attempting to cover sporting events.

Security officers told journalists the media was banned from covering events at the premises and stopped their vehicle from entering Waisale Serevi Road.

They said the directive had come from chief executive officer Gilbert Vakalalabure.

Senibulu said this was not the instruction given to security staff.

“The security was supposed to tell them (media) to get their passes from our office, including vehicle passes.

“We will release a statement soon.”