Fiji rugby head denied access to World Cup

A part from being head of the Fiji Rugby Federation Board, Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga is also commander of the military land forces in Fiji and has therefore been denied entrance to New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs and Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully has been clear that the sanctions would apply during the World Cup as well.

“We’ve made it very clear all the way through [that] those who are associated with the regime or with the military are on the list to whom sanctions apply, we made it clear we wouldn't be relaxing those sanctions for the Rugby World Cup,” he said according to 3news.com.

“One of the senior players, Mr Nakarawa, resigned from the military and was discharged and was given an exemption to come. If these gentlemen [Tikitoika and another Fijian denied entrance] took the same course of action, we'd obviously consider their cases on their merits.”
 
In response to McCully’s explanation Tikoitoga, who clamis New Zealand is wrongfully mixing sports and politics said:

“I think that's a stupid comment. I’m a military officer and I have never hidden the fact that I am. I would never leave my country. I would never quit just for the sake of the New Zealand government.”

The Rugby World Cup begins on 9 September 2011.

SOURCE: www.3news.com