Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) Executive convened this morning for an emergency meeting to respond to Oceania Football Confederation and FIFA as to whether to continue the competition or consider to withdraw owing to the current situation facing the National Team of Vanuatu now in Qatar.
The Vanuatu National Team was unable to participate in their first match due to a majority of players were tested positive for COVID-19 on the day of the first match (17 March 2022).
Subsequently, they have been informed that the vast majority of their players and officials have tested positive for COVID-19, evidenced by a PCR Test and the tournament regulation states that should less than 14 players who are covid19 negative, the concerned team cannot participate in a match.
Similarly, under the Ministry of Public Health regulations for the State of Qatar Healthcare Protocol, the positive cases must isolate for a minimum period of 7 days.
Vanuatu’s next match day is in the next two days, on Sunday 20 March, and VFF do not have sufficient time to replace the players and officials. The current circumstances are beyond their control, therefore VFF has opted to withdraw from the competition.
The VFF Executive Committee meeting unanimously today resolved that Vanuatu must seek to withdraw from the competition as was recommended by OFC Competition Department for valid reasons and at the same time, the VFF Executive Committee is seeking the assistance of the OFC and FIFA if there is the possibility to waive the disciplinary sanctions regarding the withdrawal of the Team as Vanuatu was being forced by the unexpected circumstances of the current worldwide health crisis of the covid19 pandemic to withdraw due to a situation beyond its control.
Also the Executive Committee is requesting the FIFA and OFC to arrange the return of the players to Vanuatu as soon as all they are tested negative.
The FIFA President always stressed that health must come first in this trial time.
