Football: Oceania Football Confederation President David Chung in sudden resignation

Auckland's Ivan Vicelich is handed the trophy by former OFC President David Chung. Photo / Photosport

The most powerful man in Oceania football has stepped aside from his position - in somewhat mysterious circumstances.

The president of the Oceania Football Confederation, David Chung, announced his resignation on Friday morning.

A short statement from the OFC said Chung took the decision "after much deliberation, citing personal reasons."

His exit comes ahead of a special general meeting of the OFC Executive committee, which had been called for this Sunday in Auckland.

The Herald understands that the OFC executive was considering a vote of no confidence in Chung at that meeting, so his move may have pre-empted any such vote.

Chung had been at the helm of OFC since 2011, and was also a powerful figure on the FIFA football committee.

Chung had been closely aligned to new FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and was also a member of the FIFA Bureau, which was the highest committee at FIFA made up of each confederation president plus Infantino.

Chung was also a FIFA vice-president.

It's believed that Chung would have been entitled to an annual stipend of around US$300,00 from FIFA, as well as a six figure salary for his annual duties as OFC president.

Malaysian-born Chung was elected unopposed as OFC head in 2011, after the suspension of Tahiti's Reynald Temarri. He was re-elected four years later.

But Chung, who is also head of the Papua New Guinea FA, has been caught up in a power struggle in his adopted nation over claims of vote-rigging at the 2016 PNGFA elections.

Chung has denied the allegations, but his opponents have set up a breakaway league and their own football federation.

The new league attracted twice as many teams as the established competition.

Chung's departure follows that of former OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas, who resigned in December after almost two decades in the job.

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