Police begin fraud probe of Oceania Football Confederation

 New Zealand Police's serious fraud office has begun an investigation into former leading figures in Oceania Football Confederation in response to a complaint by world governing body FIFA.

fraud office confirmed investigation Thursday after inquiries by New Zealand's Fairfax Media.

Fairfax reported that one of people under investigation is former OFC president David Chung, who rose from chairmanship of Papua New Guinea football federation to become one of most powerful figures in world football, deputy to FIFA president Gianni Infanti.

Chung resigned from OFC in 2018 citing personal reasons shortly before a damning audit report was presented to confederation's executive committee. In March, 2019 FIFA banned Chung from having any involvement in football for 6 1-2 years after its ethics committee found him guilty of "having offered and accepted gifts" and having "conflicts of interest."

Former OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas was banned for eight years in May, 2019 after ethics committee found he had misappropriated funds allocated by FIFA towards construction of an OFC "Home of Football" in Auckland, and for accepting gifts in violation of ethics code.

In a statement at time FIFA said " investigation into Mr. Nicholas concerned misappropriation of FIFA funds allocated to OFC between 2014 and 2017 in relation to OFC Home of Football, as well as to various undue benefits accepted from or offered to several football officials and or individuals."

FIFA advanced $10 million to OFC towards construction of complex which was to include offices, playing fields and training facilities. But building project was over budget when it stalled in 2018.

In subsequent litigation by building contractors against OFC, courts heard allegations of misuse of funds by Chung and Nicholas.

Lawyers for Chung and Nicholas have refused to comment on investigation.

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