Soccer: Phoenix could be extinct by 2012

Wellington Phoenix fans will have very little to cheer about if the Asisan Football Confederation has its way. Photo / Getty Images

The Wellington Phoenix soccer club could be facing extinction in 2012.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has ordered Football Federation Australia (FFA) to dump the Wellington-based club by 2012 or face Australian clubs being banned from the lucrative Asian Champions League (ACL).

Despite months of lobbying by the FFA, officials at the AFC yesterday maintained that having a club from another country, and confederation (Oceania), play in Australia's league breaks ACL rules.

The one caveat was that Wellington could continue in the A-League if their number of foreign players - ie non-Australian - was limited to the five that the other A-League clubs are permitted.

That would rip the local heart out of a club that has provided the bulk of New Zealand's World Cup squad, and defeat the point of having a Kiwi side in the A-League.

The A-League is to expand to 11 clubs next season and Sydney Rovers are scheduled to become the 12th team in 2011, but having to offload the Wellington franchise - probably switching it to Canberra - would be a blow to the FFA, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported today.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy has lobbied hard since the AFC first raised objections to the A-League having a New Zealand chapter, and FFA officials had felt progress was being made.

The newspaper said Wellington officials could not be reached for comment last night but an FFA spokeswoman said: "We're very encouraged by indications from the AFC regarding Wellington Phoenix's eligibility for the ACL.

"But there are some issues we need to follow up with them for clarification."

According to the goal.com website, the AFC decision was made on October 30.

The AFC told the FFA that it can continue to participate in the ACL from 2012 under the following conditions:

- Wellington Phoenix should be officially registered as a commercial entity in Australia under local law.

- To comply with the provisions of the regulations, the number of foreign players (non-Australian) in Wellington Phoenix FC should be the same as in other clubs participating in the A-League.

- Otherwise, Wellington Phoenix FC should belong to the second division of the A-League, which should be newly created by the FFA.

Wellington are currently eighth in the A-League with 21 points from 18 matches, 13 behind leaders Melbourne Victory. The top two teams qualify for the ACL.

- NZPA