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The Ole Madrids franchise has followed through with its threat to take New Zealand Soccer (NZS) to the High Court in Auckland following their omission from the revamped national league.
In a statement today, The Porirua-based Ole Madrids chairman Mark Scott said he was left with no choice but to take the action due to NZS's continual refusal to provide a reason for the exclusion.
Scott said its legal case was that NZS had "engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct".
"We seek inclusion in the new league, and damages which are likely to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars," Scott said.
Ole Madrids was one of the three clubs, including East Auckland and Team Bay of Plenty, who failed to win acceptance into the eight-team competition.
Scott said it remained frustratingly unclear why their bid had failed when other franchises had been accepted despite not reaching NZS's criteria.
"We have twice requested information, and twice been given nothing but irrelevant platitudes," Scott said.
"We have no option. NZ Soccer must be held accountable for its decision-making process which, from our perspective, and in the absence of anything approaching an explanation, is seriously flawed."
Scott said the only information received from NZS amounted to a denial of its right to have the issue investigated and to assess whether there had been impartial treatment of all bids.
Scott had no interest in accepting an invitation to meet NZS chief executive Bill MacGowan as he and his panel did not make the decision. The makeup of the league was determined by the Board of NZS.
"... why are they not prepared to show the evidence?" Scott asked.
"We can only conclude that the whole process is so flawed and partial that they are terrified of the consequences.
"It is difficult to imagine a more disingenuous position for NZ Soccer to take. Does NZ Soccer really think it can play judge, jury and executioner without having to be properly accountable for its actions?"
- NZPA
Soccer: Legal action taken over NZ Soccer's national league selection
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