KEY POINTS:
The World Cup qualifier between the All Whites and Fiji, originally scheduled for Auckland tomorrow, was today called off by world soccer's governing body, Fifa, because of the New Zealand Government's ban on a Fijian player.
Fiji's No 1 goalkeeper, Simione Tamanisau, was left back home when the
squad arrived in Auckland yesterday after he was denied a visa.
His visa application was turned down because, under sanctions imposed by New Zealand after last December's coup in Fiji, people with ties to the military cannot come to this country.
Tamanisau's father-in-law was reported to be a military policeman, although Fiji soccer officials say the player is not yet married.
Oceania Football Confederation general secretary Tai Nicholas said Fifa had expressed disappointment at New Zealand's decision to deny Tamanisau the right to be part of his national team.
Fifa considered this to be inconsistent with the worldwide practice of providing visas for visiting sides whose only objective was to play in World Cup qualifiers.
Nicholas said Fifa this morning gave the Government a further opportunity to reconsider its position regarding Tamanisau.
However, Fifa had been advised that there had been no change in New Zealand's stance, he said.
"In view of the refusal of the visa, Fifa wishes to confirm that it will not allow the match to take place in New Zealand without the said player being made available to participate."
Nicholas added: "Football is truly a global game and to have a match involving political interference sets a bad precedent.
"Therefore, Fifa, as custodians of the sport, have taken this decision."
He said the status of the fixture, the first in the All Whites' campaign to try to qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa, would be referred to the World Cup organising committe.
Options included playing it in a neutral country at a later date, or returning it to a New Zealand venue if the Government changed its position regarding Tamanisau.
The next match in the Oceania qualifying schecule, between the All Whites and Fiji in Lautoka next Wednesday, would go ahead as planned.
New Zealand Football chief executive Graham Seatter said his organisation was clearly disappointed with the outcome, but it was something that was outside their hands.
"We desperately wanted to host the game," he said.
"We wanted to do that for the players, their families, the New Zealand football family and primarily for the fans."
Seatter expressed concern about the consequences of the decision, which was "potentially dire" for the sport in New Zealand.
He said NZF had costs of more than $200,000 associated with the fixture, most of which had been incurred, and there would no revenue from it.
A bigger worry was the precedent relating to New Zealand's ability to host international matches.
"It is a scary prospect that may play out in the future," he said.
"Of most concern is our hosting position for next year's under-17 women's World Cup."
- NZPA
