Reynald Temarii
Encyclopedia
Reynald Temarii is a French
former footballer, politician
from Tahiti
and president of the Oceania Football Confederation
. He rose to international attention following accusations of corruption during the process of the bids to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
Temarii began his footballing career with AS Jeunes Tahitiens, winning the amateur Tahiti Division Fédérale
in 1987. He left to play in mainland France
as a professional for FC Nantes in between 1988 and 1990, but then returned to Tahiti for the rest of his career. He played for AS Venus and later AS Pirae
, winning the Tahitan championships with both. An international for the Tahiti national team
, the highlight of his career came when he captained the side to a gold medal at the 1995 South Pacific Games
.
Upon his return to Tahiti in 1990, Temarii began a political career which saw him become an advisor for president Gaston Flosse
between 1991 and 1997. Between 1997 and 2004 he served as the minister for youth and sport in the Tahitian government, before being elected to the position of president of the Oceania Football Confederation. He was re-elected in 2007, when he also became vice-president of FIFA
.
As a member of FIFA's exceutive committee, Temarii holds one of the 57 votes which decides the location of the FIFA World Cup
. In the run-up to the election of the hosts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
and 2022 FIFA World Cup
, it was alleged in the Sunday Times that Temarii had said that his vote could be influenced through the construction of a sports academy in Tahiti. Temarii denied the allegations, claiming that the reporters had taken his comments out of context. He was suspended by FIFA, whilst their investigations into the allegations were ongoing, and banned from soccer administration along with Amos Adamu
when the investigation concluded. David Chung
of Papua New Guinea
was elevated to the function of acting president of OFC in his place.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
former footballer, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
and president of the Oceania Football Confederation
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
. He rose to international attention following accusations of corruption during the process of the bids to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
Temarii began his footballing career with AS Jeunes Tahitiens, winning the amateur Tahiti Division Fédérale
Tahiti Division Fédérale
Tahiti Division Fédérale is the top division of the Fédération Tahitienne de Football in French Polynesia. The initial season involves ten teams playing each other twice...
in 1987. He left to play in mainland France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a professional for FC Nantes in between 1988 and 1990, but then returned to Tahiti for the rest of his career. He played for AS Venus and later AS Pirae
AS Pirae
AS Pirae is a football team from Pirae in Tahiti. They are one of the most successful teams in Tahiti having won the Tahiti Division Fédérale seven times...
, winning the Tahitan championships with both. An international for the Tahiti national team
Tahiti national football team
The Tahiti national football team is the national team of French Polynesia and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football.They finished second in the OFC Nations Cup in its first three installments, 1973, 1980, and 1996. In 2009 the under 20 team qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in...
, the highlight of his career came when he captained the side to a gold medal at the 1995 South Pacific Games
Football at the 1995 South Pacific Games
The 1995 South Pacific Games was the 10th edition where football was introduced and was held at the in Tahiti during August 1995.-Group A:-------------------------------------Group B:---------------------Semi finals:...
.
Upon his return to Tahiti in 1990, Temarii began a political career which saw him become an advisor for president Gaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on four separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France.-Life and career:...
between 1991 and 1997. Between 1997 and 2004 he served as the minister for youth and sport in the Tahitian government, before being elected to the position of president of the Oceania Football Confederation. He was re-elected in 2007, when he also became vice-president of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
As a member of FIFA's exceutive committee, Temarii holds one of the 57 votes which decides the location of the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
. In the run-up to the election of the hosts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
2018 FIFA World Cup
The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups was the process by which the locations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups were selected. The process began officially in March 2009; eleven bids from thirteen countries were received, including one which was withdrawn and one that was...
and 2022 FIFA World Cup
2022 FIFA World Cup
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the 22nd FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that is scheduled to take place in 2022 in Qatar. The competition is scheduled to take place in June and July, although proposals have been made for a winter season. The tournament will involve...
, it was alleged in the Sunday Times that Temarii had said that his vote could be influenced through the construction of a sports academy in Tahiti. Temarii denied the allegations, claiming that the reporters had taken his comments out of context. He was suspended by FIFA, whilst their investigations into the allegations were ongoing, and banned from soccer administration along with Amos Adamu
Amos Adamu
Dr. Amos Adamu was Director General of the Nigerian National Sports Commission for ten years before being redeployed in November 2008. Before his appointment as Director General, Adamu was the Director of Sports of the ministry for 10 years.-Career:...
when the investigation concluded. David Chung
David Chung
David Chung is a Malaysian-Papua New Guinean sports official, and the current President of the Oceania Football Confederation....
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
was elevated to the function of acting president of OFC in his place.