The Volleyball Samoa Federation Inc. has expressed their disappointment about the exposure of their financial reports from previous years on social media, claiming that it has caused "internal conflicts" within the federation. 

The Federation expressed their discontentment on a social media post, after the Samoa Triathlon Federation Team Manager, Lani Young published several financial reports for other sporting bodies in Samoa, in an attempt to "prove" her conflict of interest claims against Samoa's sports governing body, S.A.S.N.O.C. 

Mrs. Young not only publicly exposed financial records for Triathlon Samoa but also other sports such as basketball and volleyball. 

This had irked Samoa Volleyball Federation who claimed that Mrs. Young should not have involved other sports with what has transpired around S.T.F. and S.A.S.N.O.C. 

"The question is, if there are issues between Triathlon, why would you involve V.S.F.I. in it without even contacting us first then we would discuss the matter?," Volleyball Federation said in a statement posted to its official Facebook account. 

The post further explained that the exposure of the federation's financial records from the previous years without even getting an explanation from them on their financial records to clarify and verify what was published online has caused internal conflicts within the federation. 

The statement also asked those who have jumped the gun and started questioning the management of the federation on the financial records. 

The statement clarified the different grants received by the Federation starting from 2019 to 2021 and how they were spent as well as audited financial statements. 

The federation also asked their members to direct all enquiries to the management if they have any other questions about finances from the previous years. 

The exposure of financial records for other sports associations in the country followed a decision from the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) to suspend the Samoa Triathlon Federation following its de-registration by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour (M.C.I.L.) while expressing concern at "recent media publications".

The Samoa Association of Sports & National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) – in a letter dated 19 July 2023 addressed to S.T.F. executives Seti Afoa and Arthur Mulitalo – was critical of “recent media publications” that it said portrayed the internal crisis as an “S.T.F. versus S.A.S.N.O.C. dispute” and felt was unfair and unwarranted.

The three-page letter – which was signed by S.A.S.N.O.C. Vice President Leasi John Galuvao – put forward 17 points to Mr. Afoa and Mr. Mulitalo that were the sports governing body’s main concerns about the leadership struggle within the federation. 

Following confirmation from the M.C.I.L. that the S.T.F. has been “struck off” the Ministry’s register of incorporated societies, Leasi said the federation’s deregistration meant that it failed to comply with Article 4(b) of the S.A.S.N.O.C. Constitution and is therefore suspended.

“In light of all that has come before S.A.S.N.O.C. and the S.A.S.N.O.C. Board and having thoroughly debated and discussed in its Special Board Meeting held on 7th July 2023 at its headquarters at Tuanaimato, the S.A.S.N.O.C. Board has unanimously resolved as follows: (i) Effectively immediately Samoa Triathlon Federation (S.T.F.) is suspended from being an affiliated sport of SASNOC,” read Leasi’s letter.

The S.A.S.N.O.C. Chief Executive Officer, Tuala Mathew Vaea confirmed the suspension of the S.T.F. on Wednesday this week when questioned by this newspaper.

"Yes, I can confirm the decision. The parties involved were informed last week after the meeting,” he said. “Everything else that you need about the decision is in the letter from S.A.S.N.O.C. to Lani and Seti."