KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Football needs Government compensation for the postponed World Cup qualifier against Fiji to avoid losing money this financial year.
"We've posted losses the last two years but we were on the edge of a break-even position this year with good gates for the Fiji and Vanuatu World Cup games," said NZF chief executive Graham Seatter. "If there's no compensation, we will definitely make a loss this year."
NZF has written to Prime Minister Helen Clark, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Sports Minister Trevor Mallard seeking compensation of up to $600,000.
The request came after Fifa postponed the World Cup qualifier between the All Whites and Fiji at Albany's North Harbour Stadium after the New Zealand Government refused one of the Fijian players a visa; denied entry because his wife is the daughter of a military policeman.
After the game was called off, Peters said the Government was looking at assistance for NZF. Seatter estimated the postponement cost NZF $200,000 to $300,000 in expenses and lost revenue. A similar figure would be needed to stage the match at a neutral venue next year.
"We haven't got reserves or a strong cash position. We manage on a very tight budget," said Seatter.
Cost-cutting would be necessary without compensation, which would be a shame if it affected the preparation of age group teams such as the one to contest the under-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand next year.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert still held out hope the game could be played at North Harbour as originally planned, although Seatter thought this unlikely.
"It's not easy going to the island countries," said Herbert. "We need all the home advantage we can get. We really need to try and get that game here."
As long as the rescheduled match took place in a Fifa international window, player availability would not be an issue, he said.
Holding the match at a neutral venue would be more expensive because the crowd would be smaller and NZF might have to contribute to Fiji's costs and pay for television coverage. TVNZ were to televise the game at North Harbour at no cost to NZF.
Seatter is pushing for the postponed game to be played in Sydney or Brisbane in June.
"Home advantage should go to the home team. If we lose the advantage of playing in New Zealand, we shouldn't end up with the disadvantage of playing in the islands."
New Zealand cannot expect to host any Oceania tournaments as long as the Government's visa restrictions against Fiji are in place, said Seatter.
NZF this week pulled out of the race to host the Oceania men's qualifiers for next year's Beijing Olympics - that tournament will now be held in Fiji.
Oceania wants Auckland to host its qualifying tournament for the annual Beach Soccer World Cup again in February. Fiji didn't play this year but should they enter next year, "we'll have to let that one go as well".
Seatter is in Zurich this weekend for a meeting of the Fifa committee responsible for overseeing the inaugural under-17 Women's World Cup. He expected to be asked if visa problems were likely with other countries.
After the All Whites played in Fiji, Iraq beat Pakistan, Seatter said. One country was a war zone, the other ruled by the military - and yet "no visas were turned down and no players couldn't play because of military or other allegiances".
Also in World Cup action this month were international pariahs such as Myanmar, North Korea and Syria and troubled states such as Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon and Sri Lanka.
New Zealand's bid document for the under-17 Women's World Cup included a letter from the Government saying only players or officials with a criminal conviction would be unlikely to receive a visa.
