United weigh up appeal options

Football

Phil Keinzley says he is still "thinking through" the decision by Football New Zealand to dismiss Wairarapa United's appeal against their disqualification from the 2013 Chatham Cup football competition.

An appeals committee of FNZ has ruled the axing made of Wairarapa United after they allegedly fielded an ineligible player during their 2-1 third round win over Napier City Rovers in Napier should stand.

The original protest was lodged by Napier City Rovers and was aimed at Wairarapa United coach Keinzley introducing Vanuatu international Brian Kalteck to the game from the reserve bench with less than 10 minutes to play and Wairarapa United holding a 2-1 advantage.

Wairarapa United argued FNZ had given permission for Kalteck to play as a "non-loan player" but FNZ upheld the Napier City Rovers protest who went on to lose on a penalty shootout to Palmerston North Marist in a fourth round fixture, the result of which would have been annulled had the subsequent Wairarapa United appeal been successful.

After reading a lengthy document detailing the judgement of the FNZ appeals committee, Keinzley felt he was left with three alternatives, ranting and raving about the fairness of the penalty handed out his side, giving the sport away through lack of confidence in FNZ or simply grin and bear it.

"I know that ranting and raving won't achieve anything in the long run so I can't see the point in that, I guess that leaves a couple of options," Keinzley said." Firstly though I need to sit down with the solicitors and go over the document, there is a lot of legal language in there and it's pretty complicated. I need to get a clearer picture of why they decided as they did."

Keinzley said the loss of the appeal was "very disappointing" for his players who had been looking forward to continuing their Chatham Cup programme, and repeating their final success of a couple of seasons ago.

"Quite honestly the current squad is as strong as we have ever had and there is no reason why we could not have gone the whole way again. It's a massive blow not to be given that chance."