Soccer: President bullying Phoenix

Daniel, right, attempts to tackle Adelaide's Fabian Barbiero during the Phoenix's 1-1 draw, their 10th stalemate of the season. Photo / Getty Images

It's hard to know what Mohamed Bin Hammam's big problem is with the Wellington Phoenix.

The Asian president oversees football in his confederation's 45 countries and countless numbers of clubs within that but he continues to pick on one in little, old New Zealand.

It's not as if the Phoenix are a threat. They finished eighth and sixth of eight teams in their first two seasons, not coming close to an Asian Champions League (they would have been barred from competing anyway) and are now eighth in an expanded 10-team competition.

Despite this, Bin Hammam continues to threaten them with A-League expulsion. Last week, he issued an edict that, from 2012, Wellington must become an Australian club not only in word but in deed.

If not, the A-League's two Asian Champions League spots are at risk.

It sounds serious for the Phoenix who, if they follow Bin Hammam's rules, will be limited to only five Kiwi players who will all be considered foreigners in their own country.

It would essentially make having a professional team in this country unsustainable because New Zealand sponsors and fans want to see New Zealand players.

All of this needs to be viewed in the wider political context.

Bin Hammam likes spouting off from time to time to flex his political muscle. He has designs on Sepp Blatter's job driving the Fifa gravy train and being controversial brings attention.

He also knows Australia needs Asia's support in its bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, as well as Oceania's.

Bin Hammam is also likely to be dark about the fact New Zealand beat one of his own sides to qualify for the World Cup and this is a way of getting back at them. It's all a game.

Wellington have a joker in their pack in the shape of Blatter. The Fifa president is a fan of the Phoenix and, ultimately, Fifa will decide their fate not Asia.

It's also in Blatter's interests for football in this country to be strong.

Not only are the All Whites heading to next year's World Cup but New Zealand are also regular participants at world tournaments as Oceania's representatives.

Take away the Phoenix, and you take away one of the main things that has brought about the tremendous success football has enjoyed in 2009.

There is still a long way for this debate to run before it is concluded. The Phoenix have a licence to play in the A-League until 2011 and Australia's football bosses are keen to see them continue after that.

But like all political games, anything could happen.

If the threat of expulsion from the A-League wasn't bad enough, the Phoenix continue to struggle to make headway in the Australian competition.

The Wellington club picked up their 10th draw in 19 games this season with the 1-1 result away to Adelaide on Friday night meaning they remained eighth on the table.

Defender Jon McKain believes they will need to win five of their eight remaining games to grab a top-six playoffs spot. That is a tall order, given they have won only four games all season.

Wellington are clearly a difficult side to beat. They have been defeated only five times, the second-lowest behind leaders Melbourne's four but have trouble putting a 90-minute performance together.

That was clearly illustrated against Adelaide, when they had an ordinary first half but had patches when they dominated in the second period.

Injuries and suspension have not helped.

Right back Manny Muscat will return for the next match at Central Coast on New Year's Eve after a three-match ban but centre back Ben Sigmund still has one match to serve.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston is out for the rest of the season with a broken leg and striker Chris Greenacre is expected to miss at least one more game.

Greenacre's absence has been significant. The Englishman is not a prolific goal-scorer - he has five in 16 games - but it's the tireless work in and around the box which is invaluable.

"We have had a rough trot lately," McKain said. "The last three weeks have been one of the most difficult for the club.

"We have had a couple of key players get injured and a couple of others suspended and that hasn't really happened since I've been here. It's been a test for us.

"There are still eight games to go and it will come down to that last game of the season.

"We know we have to win five of the eight and we are confident we can do that to get into that final six. But it's such a tight league, you would hate to be a betting man."

Wellington find themselves in a similar position to this time last season. They flirted with the playoffs right up until the final weeks before fading and they won't want to do it again.

The good thing this time is that there is only three points between them and Newcastle in fourth but they need to make their move soon.

Wellington still have four games at home, where they recently gave up a 14-match unbeaten run, but have difficult trips to Central Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Gold Coast.

They will need to hope Santa is kind to them this Christmas.