NZF appeal is embarrassing

Deklan Wynne arrives at Auckland Airport. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand Football should drop their embarrassing appeal, cop the flak, admit they stuffed up big time, and get on with the tough business of restoring faith in their operations.

The way to save face - which appears to be their concern - is to admit culpability in the disaster which dumped the Oly Whites from Olympic contention because ineligible Deklan Wynne played in the qualification tournament.

There are issues with FIFA rules designed to deal with situations in Europe where many young players cross borders into professional clubs' academies. In this part of the world, the rules that determine whether Wynne can play for New Zealand are over kill. After all, he has a Kiwi passport, has lived here for five years, and moved here from South Africa with his family.

But NZF must have known the rules, and needed to abide by them. And it had another avenue. Wynne - who came here in 2010 - has one chance to declare for New Zealand forever. So why didn't NZF get him to do that?

At least the central characters fronted for a press conference when the Oly Whites arrived home from Papua New Guinea late Monday night. Apart from that, NZF has been unconvincing, even disingenuous.

NZF CEO Andy Martin maintained the Pacific Games Council had confirmed the New Zealand players' eligibility before the tournament. A FIFA/Oceania stamp of approval, definitely. One from the Olympic Games committee, maybe. But the Pacific Games Council, whoever the hell they are? Crazy.

It makes me wonder whether NZF was trying to pull a fast one, sneaking a player into the Olympics believing no one would check. NZF statements have waffled on about appealing the process used to throw the Oly Whites out. But it has not pointed to one single eligibility clause in its defence.

Coach Anthony Hudson's new age, positivity deserves deaf ears. This is a black day for New Zealand football, the players, support staff, our football image, fundraising. It could even damage other things, like any hopes of linking with the Asian zone which is a difficult enough target anyway.

There is a fascinating side track - how did Vanuatu know there was a problem with Wynne, who has played for the All Whites? Conspiracy theories abound with reports of tensions within Oceania.

But however it came to light, NZF has let themselves, the game and the country down. NZF put Oceania football in a tricky situation on the eve of the final.

So what now? Fiji deserve to go to Rio. They are Oceania's legitimate representative - NZF should wish the Fijians well and then subject themselves to an independent enquiry to reveal what took place.