Fiji election 2018: ex-rugby chief ‘troubled’ that FRU president is also country’s prime minister; hopes for change
- Manasa Baravilala is former Fiji Rugby Union CEO ousted by current regime
- PM Frank Bainimarama is FRU president and his brother-in-law the chairman
The former chief executive of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) says he “finds it troubling” that the body’s president is also the prime minister of the country, and hopes next week’s national elections can help to bring about change in the way sport is governed in the country.
Manasa Baravilala, vice-president of Fiji’s opposition National Federation Party and rugby stalwart, said he wants politics kept out of the FRU, which is headed by Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
“We want to keep politics out of the Fiji Rugby Union and encourage it to thrive under independent management and commercial sponsorship,” Baravilala told the South China Morning Post. “I find it troubling that the president of the FRU is the prime minister of Fiji, as per the FRU constitution.
“This was not the case in my time. This, in my view can create potential conflict of interest or poor governance issues.
“The Fiji government is a major funding partner to the FRU and, because of this funding, can subject the FRU to political interference. Eligibility for FRU president should be the rugby sports administrators or presidents of provincial rugby unions who are affiliated to the FRU, who are active sports administrators.