By A Staff Reporter — MUSCAT — The Ministry of Sports Affairs has reasserted its compliance with the ruling of the Administrative Court on the issue of Oman Football Association’s (OFA) General Assembly’s decision. The ministry issued a statement here yesterday as follows: “Out of conviction in the principle of transparency and openness towards lovers of Omani football, the Ministry of Sports Affairs received with due respect the verdict of the Administrative Court (a copy of which was delivered to the Ministry on Saturday, June 30, 2012) which stipulates the ministry is required to announce the inaccuracy of the decision of the General Assembly of Oman Football Association on August 25, 2011 that approved the results of election of the Board Chairman, his two deputies and the rest of board members for the period 2011-2015. “The ministry is currently embarked on studying the mechanism of implementation of the sentence as per the common national interest.” Meanwhile, a committee named “clubs representative committee” formed on the sidelines of Saturday’s meeting at Grand Hyatt in the presence of 35 clubs out of 43 to discuss the decision of the Administrative Court on the OFA board elections – met here yesterday and received the petition of clubs to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and other issues. The Minister of Sports Affairs expressed his desire to find a solution out of this hurdle, as well as suitable solutions serving the national interest.
On the other hand, the clubs of Mirbat and Al Ittifaq expressed their solidarity with the with the other clubs that went in support of OFA decision. This came in letters sent by the two clubs to OFA that reiterated confidence on OFA and expressed support for the results of the consultancy meeting, taking to 37 the number of clubs in line with OFA board’s position.
The administrative court, following a case filed by three clubs Oman, Seeb and Muscat as well as an individual -- Suleiman bin Ali al Balushi -- questioning the validity of the elections held in August 2011, issued orders to dissolve the board. That led to the world soccer governing Fifa stepping in to remind the OFA about the statutes that prevent third party intervention in the footballing matters and to take appropriate action against the three clubs. Subsequently Fifa also declared that the said elections were held as per the rules and stand valid.
