Soccer: Scrap Oceania, look at Asia, says Hill

3.45pm - By GREG TOURELLE

SYDNEY - Little point existed in Oceania's soccer group continuing, following governing body Fifa's decision to deny the group's winner direct entry to the World Cup finals in 2006, former Soccer Australia chairman David Hill said today.

The Fifa executive's decision in Paris at the weekend has left Oceania countries -- most prominently Australia and New Zealand -- out in the cold as far as qualifying for the Cup goes.

Hill, writing in The Australian newspaper today, said Oceania's continued existence would only be used by Fifa as an excuse not to address the problems in the sport in this part of the world.

Soccer New Zealand chief executive Bill MacGowan has already questioned Oceania's future and has suggested it could affiliate with a larger and more influential region, citing a proposed division of Asia into eastern and western conferences.

But Hill thought there was little prospect of being included with Asia.

"The fact is, Asia doesn't want us and never has -- and we are less likely now to be shown a welcome mat, including our (Australia's) record on asylum-seekers, mandatory detention, Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Fifa vote to renege on their earlier decision showed that Oceania had absolutely no support around the soccer world, Hill said.

"Or worse it could suggest the Fifa executive was never serious in their original decision last year, which was merely a temporary gesture so (Fifa president Sepp) Blatter could honour a promise he made in the lead-up to the most recent Fifa presidential election when he was in need of Oceania's votes."

Hill said if Australia could not open the door to Asia -- or South America -- perhaps it might look at Israel who could no longer play in their own continent and had been included by Fifa to play their World Cup qualifiers in Europe.

He said there were many in the football world, who believed Oceania was being treated far too generously in gaining a direct entry to the finals.

"Why, they asked, should Australia -- or New Zealand -- if we slip up -- be given a free ride to the World Cup finals when the other 190 countries in the world have to fight it out against stiff opposition for the remaining 31 slots?"

Sydney Morning Herald soccer writer Michael Cockerill said today Blatter had deeply wounded Australia with his limp-wristed efforts in defending the Oceania cause at the weekend.

What Blatter now had to do was get Oceania, or at the very least, some Oceania teams, into a World Cup path involving Asia.

"This can be achieved by either rejigging the play-off system, by allowing Australia and perhaps New Zealand to swap confederations, or by disbanding Oceania and integrating the 11 teams into Asia. The bonus of the second option is that Oceania's half-place is joined with Asia's half-place, thereby creating a full World Cup slot," said Cockerill.

"Asia is highly unlikely to make the offer, but if Fifa retains any meaningful authority, and if Blatter wants to walk down George St (in Sydney) again, this can be made to happen. Extra funds and future World Cup rights are a sweetener to the deal."

The Oceania executive meets on July 26 to consider its options.

- NZPA