Soccer: Oceania backs City's right to meet 'big boys'

Oceania president Reynald Temari will go to bat for Auckland City at a top-level meeting in Munich next month at which the rules for December's Fifa World Club Cup in Japan will be thrashed out.

It was originally envisaged that the Oceania Confederation representative would follow last year's format and initially go into an open draw with the Asian, African and Concacaf (North-Central America) champions.

The winners of those two matches would win through to the semifinals, joining the seeded South American and European representatives.

The losing teams from the first round would then play off for fifth and sixth - a match won last year by Sydney FC, who picked up US$1.8 million ($2.9 million).

But, following Australia's decision to join Asia, Fifa president Sepp Blatter had a panic attack, fearing the amateur Oceania winner would get crushed by the big boys.

Acceding to a desire by competition sponsors Toyota that there be a host-nation presence in Yokohama to bolster crowd numbers - they are reported to have lost money on last year's tournament - Blatter proposed that the OFC representative should play the J-League champion, with the winner going into the main draw.

He met opposition from some Fifa members who pointed out this was a contest between confederation champions and the Japanese league winner did not fit that criterion.

A further proposal was that the OFC champion should play last year's winner - in this case South American champion Sao Paulo (Brazil) - with the victor going into the main draw.

That too met opposition, with some pointing out it would be unfair on the OFC team.

OFC secretary-general Tai Nicholas said the confederation had maintained all along that whoever won the right to play in the tournament - formerly the World Club Championship - would prefer to take their chances in the main draw.

"It has now reached a situation that needs to be sorted out," said Nicholas. "Sepp Blatter has said there will be no more discussion until the Fifa executive meeting on June 4.

"Reynald [Temari] has made the OFC position clear. He will insist we have a play-off of some sort - on the same financial terms as were in place last year [and not a reduction to US$500,000 as has been proposed] - or we go directly into the main draw. All OFC teams entered and played on that basis. He wants direct entry. A play-off was seen only as an option."

Auckland City's win on Sunday over Tahiti's AS Pirae continues to draw plaudits, with the wider game set to benefit. "Auckland City are getting the rewards they deserve," said NZ Soccer chief Graham Seatter. "They are the best resourced and organised club. I only hope other clubs can now emulate what they have done."

Other clubs are preparing to lift the bar to challenge them.

"They can only sign 23 players, like all of us," said Waitakere United chief executive Bill MacGowan. "Obviously with the opportunity to play on the world stage they will have a head start [in attracting players] but it is a challenge we won't be running away from.

"As we see it, there are three tiers in recruiting players. The lowest tier is to accommodate the young players, the second is for the experienced players you might or might not have, and the third is the most important - the search for the three imports and one marquee player you are allowed.

"In that, Auckland City are no different than the rest of us."

Incoming City coach Roger Wilkinson admits he is joining a club that has become very attractive but says he expects most players who helped win through to Japan to stay at Kiwitea St. "Going to the World Club Championships is a great challenge," said Wilkinson. "It is the sort of thing you get into football for."

The prizemoney split remains one of the most talked-about spinoffs from Auckland City's triumph.

Club chairman Ivan Vuksich said all NZ Football Championship clubs had discussed the eventuality before the first season and were happy with the way the money would be split.

"The expenses for us to compete - possibly around $200,000 - will come off the top and the rest divided up as agreed," said Vuksich.

"From our club's share we have a few things planned including buying a property near the ground which could be turned into a car park."

The club will also compensate any new players who might come into the squad for Japan with a daily allowance.

The players who helped win through will receive their payout from their 30 per cent share of the estimated $1.6 million cake.

* The All Whites' tour-opener against Hungary in Budapest will be shown live on Sky Sport 1 at 5am on Thursday.