Late return from Tongan holiday lands Fui Fui Moi Moi in trouble
By Ray Chesterton
January 20, 2009
PARRAMATTA cult figure Fui Fui Moi Moi is facing the sack after returning to Sydney 10 days late from a holiday in Tonga.
The Eels have launched an investigation into why the front-rower - a hero to the club's blue and gold army of supporters - has been stuck in the South Pacific while his teammates are busy with pre-season training.
It is believed Moi Moi has told club officials that storms and floods in the island nation prevented him from catching a flight home for days on end.
But he faces drastic punishment if it is revealed he could have made his way home sooner.
Former Australia lock and newly installed football club board member Ray Price told
The Daily Telegraph the situation was being viewed extremely seriously.
"We'll look at what Fui Fui and his management say caused the delay," Price said on Monday.
"There will be harsh punishment if there has been any misleading of the football club.
"No player can lie to his coach and the club. But we will wait until we have all the facts."
Moi Moi is expected to show for an Eels training session on Tuesday. It is likely he and his manager, Roy Spagnola, will then be asked to explain the circumstances of his delay in returning to Australia.
Unless Parramatta are convinced his late arrival was unavoidable, Moi Moi will face a stiff penalty - with his axing from the club one option that would be considered.
On Monday night, Spagnola said it had not been possible for Moi Moi to leave Tonga any earlier than he did.
He said that although media coverage had focused on storms paralysing Fiji, other South Pacific areas had also been affected.
"Fui Fui was on a small island, not on the mainland," Spagnola said.
"He's been waiting since last Wednesday to get a flight back.
"He should have been back on (January 8) so he's about nine or 10 days late. But he will be at training (today)."
Spagnola said he had spoken to Moi Moi on the telephone and instructed him to contact Eels coach Daniel Anderson to alert him to his predicament.
"I don't think the coach was happy about it but he basically said, 'Get back as soon as you can'," Spagnola said.
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