Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, at the very outset, I wish to inform the House that the situation at the Mauritius Football Association was one of the most pressing issues that demanded my immediate attention upon assuming office. I was deeply concerned by the reports circulating in the Press and felt it was imperative to address the matter without delay. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, I promptly requested a full and detailed brief on the issue, particularly whether the elections could be held. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important to distinguish between the election that was held at the Mauritius Football Association and the eligibility of Mr S.S. to stand as candidate. These are two separate issues. One does not preclude the other. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, subsequently, my Ministry obtained a copy of the Court ruling on the case of Mr S.S. through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thereafter, the advice of the Attorney General’s Office was sought and the latter indicated that Mr S.S. could be considered as eligible to stand as candidate to the National Managing Committee of the Mauritius Football Association. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed by the Mauritius Football Association that all procedures were followed as per the statutes and rules of the Mauritius Football Association Electoral Code. In fact, in the process leading to the election held on 27 November 2024, I am informed that the Mauritius Football Association must adhere to strict and well-established procedures, specifically the MFA was required to publish a notice of the election in newspapers, which was duly done on 12 October 2024 in le Défi Plus daily. Additionally, the Mauritius Football Association was obligated to issue a further notice ten days prior to the elections, confirming that the election would proceed as scheduled together with the official list of candidates. This requirement was also fulfilled in Défi Plus of 16 November 2024. The election was conducted under the supervision of representatives from FIFA and the African Football Confederation and at the local level, Mr D.M., a retired Superintendent of Police was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the electoral process. With regard to part (a)(i) of the question, I am further informed that only two individuals submitted their candidacies for the position of President: Mr S.S. and Mr E.R.

57 As for part (a) (ii) of the question, I am also informed that in accordance with the statutes of the Mauritius Football Association, any candidate for the position of President, must be supported by at least five members. Unfortunately, Mr E.R. was unable to secure the required level of support whereas Mr S.S. successfully met this criterion. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning part (b) of the question, I am tabling, with your permission, the composition of the current Managing Committee of the Mauritius Football Association for the information of the House. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to inform the House that while I am fully prepared to report on matters pertaining to sports federations in relation to their obligations under the Sports Act 2016, it will not be appropriate to report on their internal affairs as such. Sports federations are autonomous entities similar to many other associations that receive various formal support from the Government. As such, I can only report on issues pertaining to the federation that falls under the purview of the Sports Act 2016. In the meantime, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to highlight that the Sports Act 2016 provides comprehensive provisions for any individual who feels aggrieved by the action or omission of a sports federation. The Sports Arbitration Tribunal, an independent body established under the law, is specifically tasked with addressing such matters. Therefore, any aggrieved parties have the right to refer their concern to the Sports Arbitration Tribunal for appropriate redress. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my Ministry will not walk away from its responsibility of bringing order to the catastrophic situation which I inherited in the sports sector. We will bring order to this disorder. We are already working on the introduction in the National Assembly of a new Sports Bill that will address many of the seemingly unresolvable problems. I wish to conclude by stating that I will not condone any form of malpractice from any national sports federation which may jeopardise the interest of the sports community. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Yes, hon. Quirin!

58

Merci, M. le président. Permettez-moi, tout d’abord, de dire que je suis en totale désaccord avec ce que vient d’affirmer l’honorable ministre…

Put your question!

…par rapport aux procédures suivies lors des dernières élections. M. le président, ma question est : comment le ministre peut-il justifier la candidature de Monsieur S. S., qui a était condamné à un an de prison avec sursis et une amende de 900 000 ariarys pour violence physique, psychologique et morale à l’encontre de son épouse, alors que la Sports Act 2016, la loi suprême du pays en matière de sports, est claire là-dessus ? Et je cite, rapidement, la section 9 (5) (c) – “(5) No person shall be eligible for election as a member of a Managing Committee of a National Sports Federation where – (c) he has been sentenced to imprisonment by a Court for an offence;” Donc, comment une personne condamnée peut être candidat à une élection fédérale ? Et je vais déposer, M. le président, une copie de l’acte de condamnation de Monsieur S.S., accompagnée d’une copie de la section du Sports Act que je viens de citer.

Is it a certified copy of the judgement?

Bien sûr.

I am asking if it is a certified copy.

Vous pouvez jeter un coup d’œil si vous le voulez.

Hon. Minister!

The view of the Attorney General’s Office in respect of the election is as follows: “Since section 9(5) (c) of the Sports Act simply refers to a term of imprisonment and is silent regarding, for example, a suspended sentence, peine d’emprisonnement avec sursis, a sentence whose execution is suspended pending appeal, etc., an interpretation of section 9 (5) could be that it was intended to apply to a person who is actually made to serve a sentence as imprisonment.’

59 Hence, on the basis of the above, it may be said that Mr S.S could be considered as eligible to stand as candidate, as the State Law Office stated.”

M. le président, je suis totalement, encore une fois, en désaccord. En plus de la Sports Act qui a été transgressée avec l’accord de l’honorable ministre lui-même, il y a également le questionnaire for integrity checks de la MFA qui stipule à la section 1 (4) (a), et je cite rapidement – “An integrity check shall be deemed as not passed if the candidate concerned has been subject to criminal conviction or disciplinary sanctions by a State court, in particular, if the underlying behaviour was a substantive issue and not a minor infraction or procedural behaviour.” Avec cela, ce qui fait que la transgression de la loi du pays, il y a aussi des règlements internes de la MFA. M. le président, est-ce que l’honorable ministre ne considère-t-il pas que Monsieur S.S., après que j’ai énuméré tout ce qu’il y a contre Monsieur S.S., qu’il n’était pas qualifié pour être candidat à cette élection et de surcroît assumer la présidence ?

Hon. Member, the….

The question has already been answered, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Please, sit down! The hon. Minister has stated that he is going according to legal advice and he has acted on legal advice submitted to him. So, we cannot, in this House, challenge a legal advice. So, I take it that the answer has already been forwarded to you.

My last question…

Yes, but we cannot challenge the legal advice upon which the hon. Minister is acting.

D’accord, je vous comprends. Donc, pour clore sur ce dossier, M. le président, le ministre a parlé des conseils qu’il a pris, qu’il aurait reçus avec la State Law Office ou le Bureau de l’Attorney General. Peut-il, donc, déposer une copie des échanges qu’il y a eu entre son ministère et la SLO et le Bureau de l’Attorney General, incluant la…

Of course, I am prepared to lay any document related to that issue.

60

The document between a lawyer and the institution is a privileged document which cannot be laid on the Table of the Assembly. It is a privileged document between the client and the Attorney.

I am guided by what the Deputy Speaker said.

Sauvé par M. le président ! Merci.

Sorry, what did you say?

Sauvé par M. le président !

Okay. Be careful! The hon. First Member for Rodrigues! RODRIGUES – POOR NETWORK COVERAGE – IMPROVEMENT MEASURES