Soccer: Oceania unaware of Australian shift

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is in the dark over any plans Australia have to shift their soccer allegiance from Oceania to Asia.

A statement from Football Federation Australia (FFA) yesterday outlined details of the planned move which would see Australia become a full member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and cut all ties with New Zealand and the island nations of the OFC.

"For some time now the FFA has had an objective to join AFC. Our current affiliation leaves Australia in an anomalous situation in a football sense," FFA chairman Frank Lowy said.

Despite losing its most influential member, the OFC would, apparently, retain all its rights, including direct entry to all Fifa tournaments (apart from the World Cup), including the Olympics.

As one of the strongest OFC nations, New Zealand teams would be well placed to play at the highest level.

OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas said he had only become aware of the FFA's proposal via media reports yesterday but he was not prepared to comment.

He said there was a consultative and logistical process to go through involving OFC, AFC and (world governing body) FIFA.

"Until such time as this process is completed we cannot announce any decision relating to the proposal by the FFA," Nicholas said in a statement.

"It is important the OFC examine the merits of such a proposal and decide what it is in the best interests of the OFC and at the same time balance this against the request by the FFA.

"Until the members of OFC have been consulted and expressed their views on such a proposal OFC is not a position to make any further comment."

The OFC executive committee will meet to discuss the matter on April 16 in Noumea.

Yesterday New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter said a shift by Australia would be a negative.

"I don't believe it would be good for New Zealand," he told The New Zealand Herald.

"We have suffered by being in the weakest Fifa confederation. Without Australia we would be further weakened and we will suffer more.

"Without Australia, we would lose much of our bargaining power and revenue streams.

"The best we could aspire to would be being the best of 10 island nations. There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge before this happens.

"If they (Australia) leave, they will never come back."

It is understood the AFC will invite Australia in at its meeting on March 23 and will then make a recommendation to Fifa.

- NZPA