FIFA backs Phoenix until 2016
Roar Rookie By Thomas Conlin, 8 Jun 2010 Thomas Conlin is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- A-League, FIFA, football, Wellington Phoenix
Related coverage
Wellington Phoenix will remain a part of the A-League picture until at least 2016, FIFA decided today, as the executive committee met in Johannesburg.
The committee approved the joint request from the FFA and New Zealand Football to extend the dispensation five years beyond the current 2011 deadline.
The decision comes despite previous opposition from the Asian Football Confederation.
The impact of representation on the game in New Zealand has been obvious as 2009 represented the most successful year in the nation’s footballing history.
The executive committee also officially ratified the possibility of joint hosts for the 2018/2022 World Cups, in another decision with ramifications for the FFA.
While this was not expected to be an issue, it now officially confirms Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Holland as competition for the Australian bid.
The game’s decision makers face a busy week as the world prepares to party.
The FIFA Congress will take place on Wednesday (9/6) and Thursday (10/6) before the opening game between host-nation South Africa and Mexico kicks off the 2010 World Cup on Friday.
As with the rest of the world at the moment, financial issues are likely to dominate discussion with the federation’s financial report due, however President Sepp Blatter is confident about the games position.
“Due to a strong financial result, FIFA will announce an extraordinary financial contribution to its members as well as to the confederations,” he said.
Sport, all day long. Does this sound too good to be true? We're searching for a Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. If you're a sales star who doesn't mind a hit, kick, throw, or cycle, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- A-League, FIFA, football, Wellington Phoenix
June 8th 2010 @ 4:41am
AA said | June 8th 2010 @ 4:41am | Report comment
I still struggle to see the benefits, football wise, of having Wellington in the A-League. Oh well, I’ll await the usual people to comment…
As deadman said in this thread last year (http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/12/21/long-dark-cloud-hangs-over-new-zealand-football/) “You can only cry poor for so long, before the world catches on to a (all) white lie.”
June 8th 2010 @ 6:58am
Hombre said | June 8th 2010 @ 6:58am | Report comment
excellent news for the A league
June 8th 2010 @ 7:40am
Chris said | June 8th 2010 @ 7:40am | Report comment
Great news for the A-League and NZ Soccer. Kicking them out would be nothing short of a death sentence for Soccer in New Zealand and would rob the A-League of one of it’s few teams that draw decent crowds.
June 8th 2010 @ 9:58am
Kazama said | June 8th 2010 @ 9:58am | Report comment
This is fantastic news. IMO, the Phoenix are an important part of our league and proved they are worthy of being a member of our competition last season.
Now if only the FFA would let them have a youth team, even if they were limited to using Australian kids and Phoenix reserves, perhaps playing as Canberra United or something.
June 8th 2010 @ 10:34am
Axel V said | June 8th 2010 @ 10:34am | Report comment
This is what Wellington bring to the A-League
They had the largest crowd of the season until Melbourne hosted the Grand Final
And this is what the A-League helped do for New Zealand football
June 8th 2010 @ 10:45am
chris mackinnon said | June 8th 2010 @ 10:45am | Report comment
you need wellington in the a league, phoenix play exciting football in which a few clubs in the league dont play,
June 8th 2010 @ 12:54pm
ItsCalledFootball said | June 8th 2010 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Great news.
Phoenix are a well run club and Wellington is a very cosmopolitan and sport savy city.
With Ricky Herbert as coach and after their World Cup experiences, the Nix are going to challenge for the title again, which is only good for the A-League and NZ football.
I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t want a NZ football team to do well in the A-League really, unless you were from Aussie Rules . . .
June 9th 2010 @ 7:56pm
Betty B said | June 9th 2010 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
It’s great news for NZ football, but is it good for Aust football? We’ve made our future in Asia. We know Asia is unhappy with a non-Asia team playing in the A League. Despite what they may say, they won’t like this and we will pay (somehow). No – if NZ is serious, they should pursue an Asia path also. Otherwise, play in Oceania. It’s not as if the A-League is going to collapse without them.