The Oceania Football Confederation might have a much-needed ally in veteran US administrator Chuck Blazer as they take on City Hall to retain direct entry rights to major Fifa tournaments.
Speaking as a Fifa executive member and as general secretary of the Concacaf (North/Central American and Caribbean) Confederation,New Yorker Blazer said he favoured Oceania holding direct entry to the Confederations Cup and Fifa's Club World Cup.
Blazer, in New Zealand to continue planning and preparation for next year's world under-17 women's championship, said he did not agree with suggestions the world club championship should be the domain of professional clubs only.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter started alarm bells ringing at last year's Club World Cup in Japan when he spoke out against amateur clubs participating in the tournament.
His attack on Auckland City's participation there led to disquiet in Oceania and New Zealand Soccer circles.
"What would happen if one of the teams from a country like Trinidad and Tobago won through and was then told they could not compete because they were not professional?" asked Blazer.
As chairman of the 2009 Confederation Cup committee, Blazer is happy that the six confederation champions will be joined in South Africa by the hosts and defending champions.
"As long as we [Fifa] consider Oceania as a confederation we should treat them as such," said Blazer.
Of more pressing concern for him and his delegation is the inspection of facilities ahead of the inaugural women's under-17 championship in October-November next year.
Encouraged by the support of Concacaf president Jack Warner, who headed the organising committee for the 1999 world under-17 (men's) championship here, Blazer went in to bat for New Zealand in awarding them the pathfinding tournament.
There are still decisions to be made, including where the opening game and final will be played.
"That should become clearer by the time we have ended our visit," said Blazer before heading to Napier yesterday.
They will also visit Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hamilton.
Asked whether he dared hope the women's final would be able to match the 20,000-plus crowd who watched the 1999 men's final between Brazil and Australia, Blazer quickly hit back: "Why not?"
