Solomon Islands: Joel Konofilia three-year ban is over

Former Solomon Islands National Football Team’s player Joel Konofilia is finally cleared to run football activities linked to Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) as his three-year ban finished earlier this month.

The ban was for an assault incident in the Solomon Cup 2017 when Joel was coaching the Renbel Chiefs against Western Turtles on Saturday 16 June 2017. It was alleged that at the 73rd minute of the Match (second half), Joel was sent off from the technical area by the match referee for his continuous and persistent protests against match referee’s decisions during the match.

At the end of the match, the match officials including the match referee were retiring to their Dressing Room when Joel came out and approached them in front of the entrance leading into the dressing room. Joel allegedly gestured and pretended to shake the match referee’s hand. Instead, and instantly he landed a closed left fist on the match referee’s right cheek below his ear.

The three-year ban officially ended on July 3 which means that he is allowed to be part of football activities that have any kind of link with SIFF. Joel – also known as Puia – is currently well known in the country for running Royals Academy – a football academy that recently took many young players from Solomon Islands to study and train in England.