Soccer: Phoenix upset at NZ Football's stance

New Zealand Football won't bend to a request from the Wellington Phoenix to allow their All Whites to play against the Perth Glory. Photo / Getty Images.

New Zealand Football won't bend to a request from the Wellington Phoenix to allow their All Whites to play against the Perth Glory, which has prompted a curt reaction from the A-League club.

NZF have requested that five Wellington players - Glen Moss, Leo Bertos, Andrew Durante, Ben Sigmund and Jeremy Brockie - not play the fifth round match against Perth in Christchurch on November 9. The All Whites squad to face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on November 14 (NZT) will meet in Los Angeles on the 9th (US time) and Fifa regulations state clubs must release players five days before a match.

Players can play on the first day of the window for their club if the association permits it but NZF have denied an application by the Phoenix. They argued the playoff against Mexico was too important and didn't want to risk anything around injuries and possible flight delays.

The club attempted to find a compromise, ensuring their players would be in Auckland by the time the squad flew out to LA.

Phoenix general manager David Dome said the club were extremely disappointed with NZF's decision, especially as during the October Fifa window the Phoenix had, in good faith, allowed its New Zealand internationals to be released for a longer window than the regulations required.

"It is disappointing as Fifa regulations allow the players to play in Christchurch should both parties agree,'' Dome said. "NZF has stated they want the players in LA on November 9. We can get the players to LA arriving on the 9th.

"We were hoping NZF would accept our unique position of having five players called out of our squad with the change in the window, and to reach a compromise with us, but this has proven not to be the case.''

Dome said the club are still clarifying with Fifa some technical definitions of the regulations with a view to the players being made available for the Christchurch game.