The coach who led the New Zealand side to the Under 17 World Cup never suspected any of his players were ineligible but admitted that he didn't have a full understanding of the Fifa regulations.
Yesterday the Herald revealed the Oceania Football Confederation are investigating a claim the Young All Whites used ineligible players to win their World Cup qualifying tournament in American Samoa in January.
Head coach Jose Figueira and assistant coach Paul Temple were controversially sacked following the qualifying tournament, despite the Young All Whites winning all seven of their matches in trying conditions. The sacking had nothing to do with any eligibility problems.
Figueira said that when news of the Oly Whites forfeiture from the Olympic qualifying tournament broke he had no immediate fears about the under-17's eligibility, but began to have doubts as the story started to grow.
"I started to think about some of the boys who were involved during my time who were born outside of New Zealand," said Figueira.