KEY POINTS:
Eighteen weeks after Waitakere United and Auckland City clashed at Trusts Stadium in what has become the most controversial match of the New Zealand Football Championship season, the arguments rage on as City seek to have three valuable points reinstated.
A meeting in Auckland yesterday again failed to resolve the issue but led New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter to later say the matter will be finalised by the end of next week.
"All parties agreed to say nothing at this stage other than the process will continue and hopefully be resolved before the last round of the season," said Seatter after the meeting involving NZS and Auckland City and their respective lawyers.
The problem arose when Auckland City were stripped of the three points they took from the 1-0 away win on October 29.
New Zealand Soccer ruled that in playing James Pritchett, whom they deemed to be ineligible as he had withdrawn injured from the New Zealand A team selected to play in Vietnam, City had breached the rules and were docked the points.
City appealed the decision.
New Zealand Soccer's appeal committee upheld the original decision.
Refusing to accept that, City have looked at other options in a bid to have their case reheard and the decision overturned.
There have been suggestions the matter could go to Fifa and even the Swiss-based Council for Arbitration in Sport.
Should the appeal ever reach Fifa - and fail - there is apparently the provision for a minimum fine of 6000 Swiss francs ($7000).
It is understood the matter has already cost New Zealand Soccer at least $15,000 although Seatter would not confirm that.
The issue has now reached a head as the top three teams juggle for positions in the run-in to the end of the season.
With those three points credited to them, Waitakere (on 44 points) lead by five from YoungHeart Manawatu with City a further three points back but with a game in hand.
The winner of the round-robin (minor premiership) wins automatic hosting rights for the grand final and the first of two guaranteed spots in next season's Oceania Champions League. The team finishing second host the major semifinal which will find the other grand finalist.
The winner of the grand final will claim the second O-League spot but if the same team win both the minor premiership and the grand final, the runners-up in the premiership will take that second O-League slot.
Coincidently, none of the top three teams will play each other in the remaining two rounds although Auckland City do face two potentially difficult away games with Team Wellington (one the catch-up) before the final positions are known.
Given the situation, there will be more than the usual interest in City's home game with Canterbury United tomorrow. Interestingly, and in the happy position of having a full squad to select from, City coach Paul Marshall has bracketed Pritchett, one of his better performers this season, with former All White Jonathan Perry.
Manawatu are at home to Waikato on Sunday in what promises to be a tight affair while Waitakere, who can wrap up the title race, are away to Hawkes Bay tomorrow but without captain Danny Hay who is unavailable.
GOLDEN BOOT
22: B. Totori (Manawatu).
11: G. Little (Wellington), C. Menapi (Waitakere).
10: G. Young (Auckland).
8: B. Fisher (Canterbury), D. Koprivcic (Waitakere).
7: A. Pearce (Waitakere), K. Jordan (Auckland).
6: P. Urlovic (Auckland), H. Faarodo (Canterbury), A. Maemae (Manawatu), M. Williams (Waikato).
