Cook Islands football rep Grover Harmon has been elected the new president of the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) for the next two years up to the next elective year for Council Members in 2026.

Harmon is the son of former long serving CIFA president Lee Harmon who was banned by the international body Fifa in 2019 for three months and fined about $30,000 for scalping tickets to 2018 Fifa World Cup games in Russia.

The former vice-president of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and a member of the powerful FIFA Council was subsequently banned by the OFC for six years and fined $110,000 for different charges of bribery and corruption, accepting gifts and conflicts of interest. However, after an appeal, the sanctions were reduced to five years from August 23, 2021, $50,000 fine and $17,000 costs to OFC. The ban, which ends in 2026, will remain in place until the fine and costs imposed have been paid in full.

Tiraa Arere, who was elected the president of CIFA for a four-year term at the association’s annual general meeting on June 23, 2022, was officially dismissed late last year following a leadership dispute that ended up in court. In December 2023, CIFA’s executive committee agreed to uphold the CIFA Disciplinary and Dispute Committee’s decision, dismissing Arere as president and imposing a 10-year ban, for alleged misconduct.  

CIFA vice president Moeroa Tamangaro served as the acting president until the CIFA Ordinary Congress held at the CIFA Headquarters on Tuesday this week elected Grover as the new president.

According to a statement from CIFA, approved by the chairman of the Eligibility Committee Tupou Faireka, the Ordinary Congress had all the Outer Island Associations’ and Rarotonga Football Clubs’ representatives in attendance “as well as representatives of FIFA and OFC to oversee the event”.

“Grover Harmon is the youngest president in the Oceania Region and most probably at the international region. Being the president of Tupapa Maraerenga Football Club for eight years, an international national player for the Cook Islands, he has the experience, knowledge and right qualities to lead CIFA forward to the next level. He is all about football, played football, and his passion for football is undeniable,” the statement said.

The meeting commenced with the 2023 activity report presented by former acting president, Moeroa Tamangaro which highlighted the football activities in the Cook Islands during the past year.

Following the activity report, the 2023 financial report was presented. This was followed by the presentation of the 2024 CIFA Budget.

“The 2023 Activity Report, 2023 Financial Report and the 2024 CIFA Budget was approved by the Members of the Congress.”

The statement said the election process of the president and CIFA independent committees was administered and supervised by the newly elected Eligibility Committee as per the requirements of the new CIFA Statues approved in April 2024.

“The majority of the Members elected Grover Harmon as president of CIFA up to the next elective year in 2026.”

The newly Audit and Risk Committee Members were also elected at the Congress, of whom Ana Inamata elected as chairperson, Elizabeth Tommy as deputy chairperson and Nadine Newhnam as an ordinary member. William Framhein was elected as an ordinary member of the Appeals Committee.

Grover Harmon acknowledged the unanimous support from the members and thanked them for their support and confidence in him to lead CIFA in the coming years, the statement said,

He also thanked the hard work and support given by the Executive Board Members and the CIFA staff and looks forward to working with all in the coming years.

• RK/CIFA Media