Held at the Novatel Ascot in Greenlane, Auckland, the Executive Committee convened on 23 November.
The meeting included the following attendees: OFC President David Chung, Vice President Lee Harmon, Executive Members Frank van Hattum, Lambert Maltock, Toetu Petana, Thierry Ariiotima, Rajesh Patel, observer Ian Shaw, General Secretary Tai Nicholas and general secretariat staff.
OFC President David Chung then thanked Federation Tahitienne de Football President Thierry Ariiotima for that nation’s hosting of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in September and October.
“We are grateful for the way Tahiti hosted the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, a tournament rated as one of the best and an event that put Oceania on the world map.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FTF for their professionalism. All video content was produced by OFC TV. FIFA was impressed with the professionalism shown and hope to use OFC TV at future tournaments,” Chung said.
Thierry Ariiotima then conveyed FTF’s gratitude for support received from the OFC.
“We would like to thank the members of the OFC Executive Committee for the grants that we received from OFC. This World Cup it was important for us to prepare this right and represent Oceania correctly.
“We knew if we weren’t at our best level then all of Oceania would have had a bad image. From everything FIFA told us I think not only Tahiti’s image was enhanced, but the entire Oceania confederation and how we handle such events.”
“If New Zealand can also host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2015 successfully we will continue to have a very good profile at FIFA in hosting future events,” Ariiotima said.
Agenda items at the meeting included an update on the Ngahue Reserve, confirmation of the appointment of Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel to the OFC Executive Committee and an update on the status of departmental matters within the general secretariat and its restructure.
For a list of outcomes see below.
The OFC Executive Committee:
• Approved the minutes of OFC Executive Committee meeting of September.
• Approved the OFC budget for 2014.
• Approved the appointment of Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel to the OFC Executive Committee.
• OFC Futsal Invitational to become an annual event with the participation of four OFC Member Associations and up to eight AFC Member Associations in August each year. Played 4-10 August, 2014, in New Caledonia.
• Agreed the OFC Champions League format of 12 teams and to be hosted in Fiji.
o Host venues will be Ba, Lautoka and Nadi.
o Confirmed competition regulations to be sent out to Member Associations for approval.
• Agreed that the OFC qualifying format for future FIFA age group World Cups will be:
o Changed from U-17 and U-20 Championships to U-16 and U-19 Championships to allow successful teams at least one year to prepare for the World Cup.
o The new age-group format to begin for the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship from May 22 to 30, 2014.
• Approved the OFC Competitions Calendar to 2016 with the host bidding process now underway.
• Approved the OFC President’s Cup for the OFC Champions League winners, OFC Champions League runners-up, two teams from the AFC and two further invitational sides scheduled for November 2014.
• Acknowledged Tahiti’s successful hosting of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013.
• Acknowledged OFC’s Head of Social Responsibility Franck Castillo and the Peace and Sport Award won in Monaco for the ‘Just Play’ Programmes contribution to social integration peace and sport.
• Acknowledged the work of OFC Head of TV Olivier Huc who returns to Tahiti after two years in charge of the department.
•Confirmed the appointment of Gordon Glen Watson as the new OFC Head of Media and Communications.
• Approved restructure of the OFC general secretariat.
• Agreed on the meeting schedule for OFC Executive Meetings for 2014.
The next OFC Executive Committee Meeting will be held in February 2014 in Fiji.

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