The Oceania Football Confederation Emergency Committee has disqualified Papua New Guinea club Hekari United from participating in the OFC Champions League 2017.

The decision comes after the Papua New Guinea Football Association filed a formal complaint following numerous derogatory public statements regarding PNGFA, its officials and elected office bearers, made by Hekari United chairman John Kapi Natto.

Kapi Natto has also made public statements and organised public meetings related to the formation of a new football association, in opposition to PNGFA, and a rival national league competition.

In addition a number of Hekari United players have refused to turn up for national team duty.

Players and Officials of clubs participating in the OFC Champions League have a duty (in accordance with the OFC Champions League 2017 Regulations) not to engage in behaviour that damages the integrity of football and Hekari United FC have contravened this duty.

Their conduct has been referred to both the OFC Ethics Committee and the OFC Disciplinary Committee for investigation.

No further statement from the Oceania Football Confederation will be made in regards to this matter during the judicial process.