Polemics around Fiji FACT organisation

Recently, the Fijian FA published the schedule of the three main domestic cups of Fijian football – Battle of Giants, Inter-District Championship and Fij FACT. After a long period without football, Fijian fans could finally expect the return of football in the country with the good news from the Football Association.

After another statement from the Fijian Football Association a big turmoil was set around the Following another statement by the Fijian Football Federation, there was a great uproar over the organisation of Fiji FACT. The competition is scheduled to take place in November at Subrail Park in Labasa. The statement that caused all the polemic among fans is that only six clubs will be competing in Fiji FACT – not quite normal when you count all eight teams in the Vodafone Premier League.

Many football fans in social media were angry about the decision of the Fijian Football Federation and loudly expressed their dissatisfaction. Doubts were also raised about which six teams would play Fiji FACT – according to the tournament organisers, the top five teams from the Vodafone Premier League, the national league, as well as the hosts, will participate in the tournament. It is expected that the national league will be finished as early as November and the six clubs are already known to be participating in the competition.

According to reliable sources, the decision has been made to accommodate Subrail Park as the sole host for the entire tournament. If there were eight clubs participating in the tournament, the Fiji FACT would have to be played on two weekends and the knockout system would have to be reintroduced in Subrail Park. This would have been very expensive for both the Fijian Football Association and the club districts. It is also known that if Labasa City Council does not meet the relevant stadium certification, the competition could move to either Rewa or Nadi.

The most recent club to win the Fiji FACT was Nadi in the previous season as they beat Suva by 2-1 in the grand final.