The Board of the Cook Islands Football Association is set to meet this week after the organisation's long-time President was banned for six years.
Lee Harmon has been banned from all football activities for six years. Photo: Oceania Football
Lee Harmon was found in breach of five articles of the Oceania Football Confederation's Code of Ethics, including conflicts of interest, offering and accepting gifts and other benefits and bribery and corruption.
Mr Harmon is banned from all football activities for six years. He has also been fined $US75,306 and must pay the costs and expenses of the OFC investigation and legal proceedings ($NZ40,910.16).
An OFC spokesperson said the ban means he automatically vacates his position as President of the Cook Islands Football Association, which he has held since 1997.
Cook Islands Football Vice President Moeroa Tamangaro presents an award during the 2019 OFC U-19 Women's Championship. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The current vice president of the CIFA, Moeroa Tamangaro, said they were only informed of the ban last night and have yet to discuss what happens next.
"To be honest with you we haven't confirmed anything and like what you were saying, you are the first person to talk about this," she said.
"We just got the result (of the investigation) last night so until last night he is no longer then after all this time he was still our President."
Moeroa Tamangaro said the ban was only confirmed on Sunday local time and she expects the Board of Cook Islands Football will meet in the coming days to determine their next step.
"I'm still the vice president. Nothing has been confirmed yet so that's all I know...the Board should be getting together to discuss on that matter."
Cook Islands Football Association Academy, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Photo: OFC via Phototek
Lee Harmon was previously suspended by FIFA's Ethics Committee for three months in 2019 and fined $US20,000 for breaching rules on the resale of World Cup tickets.
Since then the former OFC Vice-President and ex FIFA Council member has been excluded from the OFC Executive Committee.
Mr Harmon was present at the CIFA's last Board meeting in July but his ban means he automatically vacates his position.