All Whites' Govt funding a 'photo op', says Mallard

NZ Football has received $300,000 from the Government to help fund the All Whites' World Cup campaign. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Government's pledge of $300,000 to an "under-resourced" New Zealand Football - which has already got 20 times that amount by qualifying for the World Cup - is for a "photo op" for Prime Minister John Key, says Labour MP Trevor Mallard.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday announced Cabinet had decided to give $300,000 to New Zealand Football's World Cup campaign, to hire a temporary media manager, improve its website and run one-off football leadership camps around the country.

Mr Key said New Zealand Football was under-resourced to capitalise on the Fifa World Cup campaign.

Mr Mallard posted on Labour blog Red Alert today that New Zealand Football already had money to pay for the World Cup campaign, and questioned what the point of a further $300,000 was.

"To arrange photos with John Key no doubt," Mr Mallard said.

"Think how many netballs could have been bought with $300k."

A spokesman for Sports and Recreation Minister Murray McCully said the Government had accepted the proposals to help New Zealand's branding during the World Cup.

New Zealand had failed to capitalise on major events in the past, and the Government's involvement was a chance to make sure it made the most of the opportunity, he said.

New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading said the Government fund comes on top of US$8 million ($11.4 million) the organisation had received from football's global body, Fifa, for qualifying - which exceeded its yearly operating budget of about $7 million.

The extra media management and other programs funded by the Government would help promote football long-term, Mr Glading said.

The Government had approached New Zealand Football about ways it could help World Cup preparations, and the organisation responded with the three proposals, he said.

"We're pretty damn happy that every area we asked for we got," Mr Glading said.

"Somebody asked, why didn't you ask for more?"

Before the Government offered the extra funds, media management had not been a priority, Mr Glading said.

"They were in the nice-to-have category, not the need-to-have.

"You could get away with not doing it but you could look very amateur."

Australia's Football World Cup delegation had warned him dealing with media would be a struggle, he said.

While details had not been worked out, a lot of New Zealand Football's $11 million windfall - after paying players - would go into a long-term fund so junior players attending future overseas tournaments would not have to foot the bill themselves, Mr Glading said.

It has previously been reported that $4 million would go to All Whites players.

The football leadership camps planned around the country would be a one-off series, but it was hoped they would spark ongoing football interest among young people, Mr Glading said.

On top of the $11 million for qualifying to the World Cup, the Auckland City club team raised US$1.5 million ($2.1 million) by advancing to the finals at December's Club World Cup.

There have also been the huge successes of the All Whites' recent matches: a crowd of 90,000 in Los Angeles against Mexico this month, and a full crowd in Wellington for their November qualifier.