Oly Whites 'absolutely gutted' after being kicked out of Olympic qualifying tournament

Pip Sail, mum of goalie Oliver Sail, said said she had spoken to her son this morning and he was "absolutely gutted, I think they all are". Photo / Dean Purcell

The Oly Whites are "absolutely gutted" they might miss out on the chance to represent New Zealand in the Rio Olympics next year, says one player's mother, accusing the Vanuatu team of tall poppy syndrome.

Pip Sail, mum of goalie Oliver Sail, said people needed to realise the significance of what the team would be missing out on if the decision to kick them out of the under-23 Olympic qualifying tournament was not challenged.

The Oly Whites were kicked out of the tournament on the day of the final after opponents Vanuatu protested the semifinal result due to the ineligibly of defender Deklan Wynne.
Sail said she was upset rather than angry about the disqualification.

"I suppose if I find out that the outcome is something negligent that NZ Football has done then yes I'll probably get angry but at the moment it almost seems like tall poppy syndrome like 'New Zealand always wins everything and here could be a loophole so they don't.'"

Sail said she thought Vanuatu's protest was not an example of good sportsmanship.

"It just puts an absolute horrible slant on football in general because any sport is meant to be played in the best spirit possible and I think there's been no malice, no devious means of getting players that are outstanding and they've manipulated that rule into making it seems like New Zealand has done something which they haven't."

Sail said she had spoken to her son this morning and he was "absolutely gutted, I think they all are".

"It's tough on the kids ... they work really hard they train really hard and they sacrifice a lot of personal things to get there and it's physically and mentally a tough game and then they have this happen to them," said Sail.

"I know how passionate they are about [the game] and it was really hard up in Papua New Guinea, it was a really hard place to play football, so I'm really upset for them because I know how much it means to them and I know how hard they worked."

The Sail family had planned to head with Oli to Rio to support his team, but now two years of planning was up in the air.

"We've been sitting waiting for them to qualify," said Sail.

"This is our two year plan. We try to follow Oli round and support the Jr All Whites as much as possible. Our family plan was definitely a plan to go to Rio and at least take one grandparent with us."

Ultimately though, this was about the boys, Sail said

"When you're a parent of a talented athlete you know there's money and time and all those things being put in so it is disappointing but you can't even begin to think what it's like from the kids' point of view."

Players would now be worried about the impact missing out on playing in Rio could have in future, she said.

"Every opportunity you get at international level is a chance at a better higher contract for your future. Every time they go into a world event they're looking to further their own career."

Sail said she was disappointed the issue had to be taken to court.

"It's gone past what it should be, it should be able to be sorted out in the spirit of the game but now it's just another sport that's going to the hands of lawyers to be sorted out which to me seems ridiculous, but that's the way it's gotta be."

Sail said the Oly Whites missing out on qualifying for the Olympics "would be a shame, I think it would be really disappointing and it's just wrong".