Former head of Tahiti football detained in corruption probe

5:21 pm on 30 November 2017

The former head of Tahiti Football, Reynald Temarii, has been detained in Papeete in a probe into the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 Football World Cups.

General Director of the Tahiti Football Federation and former Oceania Football President Reynald Temarii.

General Director of the Tahiti Football Federation and former Oceania Football President Reynald Temarii. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Radio1 reports that Mr Temarii has been taken in for questioning by three French investigators who arrived from Paris this week.

The report also says several searches have been carried out but no details have been given.

In April, the French daily Le Monde said others being probed by the finance investigators are Jerome Valcke and Michel Platini on suspicion of corruption.

Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini as he leaves the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini as he leaves the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Photo: AFP

At the time Mr Temarii told Radio1 that there was nothing new but a follow-up on investigations dating back to 2015.

He said he never accepted money from Qatar to vote for its World Cup bid.

Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup by FIFA in 2010.

Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup by FIFA in 2010. Photo: Photosport

In 2015, he was questioned by police in French Polynesia - two weeks after FIFA banned him for eight years over a controversial payment.

Mr Temarii, who was also a former FIFA executive committee member, was banned by FIFA's ethics committee for accepting more than 300,000 US dollars from disgraced former Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam.

Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Mohamed Bin Hammam. Photo: AFP

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