Vodafone releases another statement questioning Digicel’s motive

Vodafone Fiji Limited continues to question the motive behind Digicel's claimed payment to the players who won the Gold Coast 7s tournament last month.

Vodafone said the public statement by Digicel is rather untimely, discourteous to the Fiji Rugby Union, disregards corporate social responsibility and is nothing short of a cheap ploy to disrupt and sabotage strenuous preparations by the National 7s team towards the Dubai 7s tournament, the IRB Tournaments and the 2015 Olympics.

Vodafone also said that it would be interesting to see how the Fiji Revenue Customs Authority will treat such mysterious payments through a mysterious person.

The current rugby sponsor also says for the first time in the National 7s team’s history through Vodafone and Fiji Airways sponsorship, 7s rugby players have been contracted as professional rugby players.

Meanwhile Digicel Fiji maintains its stand that the $20,000 payment is a direct payment to the players of the winning Gold Coast 7s team.

Digicel Fiji CEO, Darren McLean who confirms that he made the no-strings attached payment to a players' representative on Tuesday and it has nothing to do with the Fiji Rugby Union or Vodafone.

McLean also maintains that he will not reveal the identity of the person who collected the money from him as it would compromise the person's current position.

We are still trying to get a confirmation from the players of winning Gold Coast 7 team on the payment and whether they have received the cash payout.