IRB sees 'no problem' with Fiji's dictator coming for Cup

Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Photo / Greg Bowker

The International Rugby Board is indicating tacit support for Fijian dictator Frank Bainimarama to be free to come to New Zealand to support Fiji in the Rugby World Cup.

IRB chief executive Mike Miller has said there are no issues with Fiji at the moment, and they will be dealt with if or when they arise.

"The team hasn't even been selected yet. Let's not create a drama which doesn't exist."

Because of Fiji's lack of progress toward holding democratic elections, the Government has imposed travel sanctions on military personnel, known supporters of the regime, and their families. There is also a ban on sports teams, but this doesn't apply to the RWC. Some national players for Fiji have ties to the military regime.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has said the bans could be relaxed in time for the Cup if Fiji showed real progress towards elections.

"The sad fact is members of their administration and military are on the banned list. Unless something happens to allow changes to occur on the sanctions front, those people aren't going to be able to come." Mr McCully said last month.

Asked if he wanted to see Commodore Bainimarama at the event, Mr Miller said: "I think that anyone who wants to come along to the RWC should come along.

"It's not up to me to decide who can come and support their team. We've had good discussions with the Fijian Government on all levels and I don't foresee any problems."

He said there was no need to discuss the matter with the New Zealand Government at the moment.

Meanwhile, Rugby NZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden said he hoped the event didn't take a financial hit from the Canterbury quake.

Moving the quarter-finals to Auckland's larger stadium meant 34,000 more tickets could be sold, but that could be offset by pool matches going to smaller stadiums.

"My instinct is there's a chance it will end up roughly neutral. I doubt it will end up positive. It's possible it will end up negative."

He said all the tickets for the Christchurch games were being refunded and those customers would have first crack at tickets for the same games at the new venues.

He criticised media coverage of the fact that only two of the stadiums - in Auckland and Wellington - will have eftpos machines.

"If you listened to the media this week, you were left with the impression we'd withdrawn the wide use of eftpos. That wasn't the case. The number of ATMs in the stadiums for the Cup have been increased from 30 to more than 100. "