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Photoek via OFC/Supplied
Samoan club Lupe ole Soaga SC pictured earlier in the Oceania Champions League football tournament in Vanuatu.
Injury-stricken Samoan club Lupe ole Soaga SC are facing a probe after pulling out of an Oceania Football Confederations Champions League men’s tournament clash with Auckland City on game day.
The OFC confederation confirmed in a statement on Sunday that Lupe was now “considered withdrawn’’ from the league after the game, scheduled for Saturday in Luganville, Vanuatu, did not take place due to player injuries.
Stuff understands the Samoan side only had nine fit players and had had their injuries list verified by a doctor on Saturday morning.
Lupe listed 16 players for a 6-0 first round loss to Suva FC, and 15 for their 3-1 second round defeat to the Solomon Warriors in Group A.
Other Champions League team have fielded 19-man squads.
The official OFC statement said Lupe ole Soaga were “unable to fulfill the requirements of the competition regulations’’.
“On that basis, OFC determined that under the competition Regulations, in particular article 8.1, Lupe ole Soaga SC are withdrawn from OFC Champions League 2023.”
Photoek via OFC/Supplied
A Lupe ole Soaga player makes a tackle against the Solomon Warriors at the Oceania Champions League men’s football tournament in Vanuatu.
The club would have “all its matches cancelled and considered null and void” with three points and official 3-0 scorelines awarded to their opposition.
The OFC said Lupe ole Soaga had been referred to its disciplinary and ethics committee.
Auckland City coach Albert Riera was disappointed his defending champions didn’t get to play but is now focused on Wednesday’s semifinals.
“We would have loved to have played another game in front of these crowds, instead we had a good training session,’’ the former Wellington Phoenix A-League midfielder said.
Photoek via OFC/Supplied
Auckland City coach Albert Rieira oversees a training session in Vanuatu.
Rieira did not think having a week off between games due to the Lupe side’s no-show would have a negative effect.
“We have to find the positive and be flexible and I believe it will be a positive and we can have two full training sessions before the semifinal.’’
Auckland City, who have won a record 10 OFC Champions League titles, have been joined in the semifinals by Grop A rivals Suva FC, who qualified after a 2-0 win over the Solomon Warriors on Saturday.
Tahitian champions AS Pirae qualified in top spot from Group B after a bruising 2-1 extra-time win over Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United.
With only three outfield substitutes across their three pool matches AS Pirae showed great spirit to make the playoffs.
An OFC news release said Pirae would be further depleted for the playoffs with Ariiura Labaste to miss the semifinal after collecting a second yellow card. They will also sweat on the fitness of Johann Tihoni, who was stretched off at the start of extra time.
With no reinforcements able to arrive from Tahiti in time it could be that AS Pirae will only have one outfielder and a goalkeeper on the substitutes bench for the crunch semifinal against Suva FC.
Auckland City are slated to meet the winner of Sunday evening’s clash between Vanuatu’s Ifira Black Bird FC and New Caledonian champions Tiga Sport.
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