Grover Harmon elected CIFA President

Cook Islands football representative Grover Harmon has been elected as the new President of the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) for a two-year term until the next election year for Council members in 2026.

Harmon is the son of former CIFA president Lee Harmon, who was banned from FIFA for three months and fined about $30,000 for scalping tickets to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The former Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) vice president and FIFA Council member was subsequently banned by the OFC for six years and fined $110,000 for multiple charges including bribery and corruption, accepting gifts and conflict of interest. However, on appeal, the sanction was reduced to five years from August 23, 2021, a fine of $50,000 and OFC costs of $17,000. The ban will end in 2026 and will last until the fine and costs are paid in full.

Tiara Arel was elected as CIFA President for a four-year term at the Association’s Annual General Meeting on June 23, 2022. At the end of last year, Tiara Arel was officially removed from his position following a leadership dispute that ended up in court. In December 2023, the CIFA Executive Committee agreed to uphold the decision of the CIFA Disciplinary and Disputes Committee to remove Arel from the position of President and impose a 10-year ban for alleged misconduct.

CIFA Vice President Moeroa Tamangaro will serve as Acting President until the CIFA General Assembly held at CIFA headquarters on Tuesday elects Grover as the new President.

According to a CIFA statement, the declaration was approved by the chairperson of the qualification committee, Tupou Faireka, and representatives from all outer island associations and Rarotonga Football Club were present at the General Delegates Meeting, “as well as representatives from FIFA and OFC to oversee the event”.

The statement said: “Grover Harmon is the youngest president of the Oceania region and will likely become the youngest president of the International region. As president of the Tupapa Maralunga Football Club for eight years, and as an international player for the Cook Islands, he has the experience, knowledge and right qualities to lead CIFA to the next level. He loves football, has played football, and his love for the game is undeniable.”

The meeting started with the presentation of the 2023 Activities Report by former Acting President Moroa Tamangaro, which highlighted the Cook Islands’ football activities over the past year.

The activity report was followed by the presentation of the financial report for 2023. This was followed by the presentation of the CIFA budget for 2024.

“The 2023 Activities Report, 2023 Financial Report and 2024 CIFA budget have been approved by MPs.”

The statement said the election process for the President and CIFA’s Independent Committee is managed and supervised by the newly elected Qualification Committee in accordance with the requirements of the new CIFA Constitution approved in April 2024.

“A majority of the membership elected Grover Harmon as CIFA President to serve until 2026.”

The General Assembly also elected new members of the Audit and Risk Committee, including Ana Inamata as Chairperson, Elizabeth Tommy as Vice Chairperson, Nadine Newhnam as Ordinary Member, and William Framhein as Ordinary Member of the Appeals Committee.

Grover Harmon thanked the membership for their unanimous support and thanked them for their support and confidence in him to lead CIFA in the coming years. The statement said,

He also thanked the Executive Committee members and CIFA staff for their hard work and support and looked forward to working with everyone in the coming years.