Chung elected Oceania confederation president

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP): David Chung replaced suspended FIFA vice president Reynald Temarii as president of the Oceania Football Confederation Sunday after his two New Zealand opponents for the position withdrew their nominations.

Chung, the president of the Papua New Guinea football association, was elected at the congress of the 11-member confederation at Pago Pago in American Samoa.

New Zealanders Frank van Hattum, chairman of Football New Zealand, and Fred de Jong pulled out of the race to allow Chung's unopposed election. De Jong retained his position on the OFC executive committee.

Temarii was forced to relinquish the Oceania presidency when he was suspended for 12 months by FIFA's ethics committee for breaches of regulations governing loyalty and confidentiality during the bidding process for the World Cup in 2018 and 2022.

The Tahitian has appealed his suspension and his fine of 5,000 Swiss francs. The penalties were imposed after a British newspaper filmed Temarii apparently discussing aspects of the World Cup bid process with a group posing as delegates from bidding nations.

Chung, 46, will hold the Oceania presidency for four years and pledged at the start of his tenure Sunday to attempt to unify the diverse confederation of mainly small Pacific states.

The decision of van Hattum and de Jong to contest the presidency was seen as potentially divisive and likely to lead to a backlash against de Jong as he attempted to retain his executive position. The withdrawal of the New Zealand delegates avoided further acrimony.

Van Hattum told New Zealand media last week his decision to stand was intended as a protest against a lack of transparency within the Oceania confederation. He also claimed that Chung was planning to resign from the presidency in November when Temarii would be reinstated to the presidency at the conclusion of his suspension.

Temarii ridiculed van Hattum's claims. "Frank Van Hattum has started his campaign with criticism and arrogance, without showing any interest to the member associations over the last two years," Temarii was quoted as saying in New Zealand newspapers last week.

"In the past, New Zealand Football representatives were elected on the OFC executive committee because NZF officials always showed respect and consideration to our members. With Frank's attitude, it seems that it is no longer the case.

"As for my return, I will not be back in November 2011. He's wrong once again. When he realizes such in November, I hope he will approach our members, or talk about them with more humility, consideration and respect."