All Whites match called off over Fijian visa

Tomorrow's football match between New Zealand and Fiji has been called off over New Zealand's refusal to issue a visa to a player because of sanctions over Fiji's military coup.

The decision to call off the match, which was to be played at North Harbour, was announced by the Oceania Football Confederation at a press conference in Auckland today.

The Oceania Zone soccer World Cup first leg qualifying match had been under a cloud since the New Zealand Government declined to issue a visa to goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau.

He was the only Fijian player to be denied an entry visa.

New Zealand has imposed strict sanctions on its Pacific island neighbour following the military coup in Fiji, including banning entry to anyone with military connections.

Tamanisau's father-in-law is in the Fijian military.

The match is likely to be rescheduled and played at a neutral venue.

Oceania Football Confederation general secretary Tai Nicholas said Fifa had expressed disappointment at New Zealand's decision to deny Tamanisau the right to be part of his national team.

Fifa considered this to be inconsistent with the worldwide practice of providing visas for visiting sides whose only objective was to play in World Cup qualifiers.

Nicholas said Fifa this morning gave the Government a further opportunity to reconsider its position regarding Tamanisau.

However, Fifa had been advised that there had been no change in Neww Zealand's stance, he said.

"In view of the refusal of the visa, Fifa wishes to confirm that it will not allow the match to take place in New Zealand without the said player being made available to participate."

Nicholas added: "Football is truly a global game and to have a match involving political interference sets a bad precedent.

"Therefore, Fifa, as custodians of the sport, have taken this decision."

He said the status of the fixture, the first in the All Whites' campaign to try to qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa, would be referred to the World Cup organising committee.

Options included playing it in a neutral country at a later date, or returning it to a New Zealand venue if the Government changed its position regarding Tamanisau.

The next match in the Oceania qualifying schedule, between the All Whites and Fiji in Lautoka next Wednesday, would go ahead as planned.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Fifa's decision was "very disappointing, and is a complete U-turn by them."

Football New Zealand was assured just a couple of days ago that the game would be played as scheduled, he said.

Mr Peters said New Zealand had handled the matter in accordance with existing immigration policy and it was Fiji which had chosen to make the matter political.

No one had the right to a visa. Entry to another country was a privilege, and all countries retained the right to exclude individuals in accordance with their immigration policy.

Sporting bodies did not determine those policies, he said.

Mr Peters said he offered to explain New Zealand's policy on Fiji directly to Fifa President Sepp Blatter but his office was told that Mr Blatter was unavailable.

The sanctions New Zealand initiated after last December's coup included a ban on sporting contact with teams representing Fiji.

The government, however, recognised NZ Soccer's obligations as host of a Fifa fixture, and ministers agreed that an exemption should be made.

Tamanisau was caught by the sanction that bans travel to New Zealand by Fiji military and members of their family. This sanction ban overrides the exemption granted to the team and renders him ineligible for a visa.

The ban applied to entry to New Zealand for any purpose, including transit. Any suggestion that it was targeted at a particular individual was misleading, Mr Peters said.

Mr Peters said the Government was looking at what assistance it could offer New Zealand Football, which would be adversely affected by Fifa's "unjust decision," he said.

- NZPA