Soccer: Veteran administrator Charlie Dempsey dies

Charlie Dempsey. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Veteran football administrator Charlie Dempsey has died.

Dempsey was the head of Soccer New Zealand when the All Whites reached the World Cup in 1982.

He also ran Oceania Football for many years and was heavily involved in the controversial decision to hand the World Cup hosting rights to Germany back in 2000.

He abstained from voting, going against the wishes of the federation which would have seen South Africa gain the rights.

As an administrator Charlie Dempsey achieved success in the awarding of the world under-17 finals to New Zealand in 2005.

Born in Scotland in 1922, Dempsey emigrated to New Zealand in 1952.

- NEWSTALK ZB