Olympics woe: NZ Football loses disqualification appeal

The All Whites were disqualified from the Pacific Games when it emerged Deklan Wynne, centre, was ineligible to play for New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Football have lost their appeal against their disqualification from July's Pacific Games due to fielding an ineligible player, confirming this country's absence from next year's Olympic tournament.

The New Zealand men's under-23 team were disqualified from the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea on the eve of the final against Fiji when it emerged Deklan Wynne was ineligible to play for New Zealand. NZF appealed the decision but the Oceania Football Confederation dismissed the appeal, leaving the question now about what further impact it will have on the national body.

"We are very disappointed at this outcome given that we were in compliance with the rules of the competition confirmed to us in advance of the tournament, and our interpretation of the relevant FIFA articles relating to player eligibility," NZF chief executive Andy Martin said.

The exclusion from the Rio Olympics is a big blow to the All Whites' hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, with coach Anthony Hudson long targeting the Olympic tournament as a key step along the qualification path.

While the team taking their place in Brazil would have largely consisted of players in an under-23 age bracket, a large core of the senior side would have been eligible to play, giving them at least three games against high quality opposition.

Martin said NZF will now consider their options, including a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"The decision around the next course of action will be influenced by a number of factors including the potential grounds for further appeal and the wishes of all affected parties.

"Our players earned the opportunity to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games and we need to carefully consider all options available to us to secure that chance for them."

Wynne had already made his debut for the All Whites and played at the Under-20 World Cup but was found to have failed to meet the Fifa regulations for a player born outside of his representative country after an appeal by Vanuatu, who New Zealand had beaten 2-0 in the semifinal. Fiji instead qualified for next year's Rio Olympics.

It soon emerged that 16 players who have represented the All Whites, New Zealand under-17s, New Zealand under-20s and New Zealand under-23s within the past year who also appear to fall short of Article 7 of Fifa's eligibility requirements.

Fred de Jong last month resigned as NZF high performance director because of the eligibility issue and Rob Sherman was today announced as his replacement in the role of technical director of the national football department.

The appeal decision is not likely to be the end of the matter and pressure will remain on Martin, who is due to front a press conference this afternoon.

There's also the possibility of Fifa taking action against NZF. In 1988, Mexico were found guilty of using overage players in an under-20 tournament, and the federation was subsequently banned from all international competition, senior and underage, for two years.