Return to Main Soccer Page

MEDIA RELEASE

Peter Rees

OFC Media Officer

rees@ofcfoot.org.nz

17^th September 2002                                                                                    

To:       All Media

 Re:      OFC Tournaments 2002-2004 – Decisions by the OFC Executive Committee

 The OFC Executive Committee met on 14^th September 2002 in Auckland, New Zealand and made a number of decisions relating to the OFC Tournaments for 2002 and 2003.

 Enclosed is a summary of the decisions made as it relates to the following tournaments:

1.         Format of OFC Tournaments

2.         OFC Under 20 Qualifying Tournament – December 2002

3.         OFC Under 15 Tournament – January 2003

4.         OFC Under 17 Qualifying Tournament – February 2003

5.         OFC Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament – April 2003

6.         OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Men) – June 2003

7.         2003 South Pacific Games – June 2003

8.         OFC Futsal World Cup Qualifying Tournament – September 2003

9.         2003 OFC Club Championship – (deferred)

Also enclosed is the tournament calendar for 2002-2003 which summarises the dates and venues of all the OFC and FIFA tournaments.

We shall be writing to all national associations more specifically in respect of each tournament. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at the OFC office.

Yours faithfully

 Tai Nicholas

OFC Competitions Manager

 1. Format of OFC Tournaments

Following the consideration of a discussion paper which had been circulated by Tai Nicholas the Executive Committee reviewed the formats for OFC tournaments. It was agreed in principle that the format for OFC tournaments in the future will be as follows:

FIFA World Cup Qualifying

Option 1:        Teams are divided into two groups with the group winners playing off home and away.  (This option will apply if OFC does not get direct entry for the2006 World Cup)

Option 2:        Teams are divided into two groups with the runners-up and winner of each group (4 teams) playing each other home and away over a series.  (This option will apply if OFC does get direct entry for the2006 World Cup)

It was noted that Option 2 will result in national associations incurring further costs if this format was approved but it is hoped revenue will be generated from the home and away matches. Also should OFC be granted direct entry to the World Cup we would need to justify the number of matches played in order for a team to qualify directly for the World Cup.

OFC Nations Cup

It was agreed that the format of the OFC Nations Cup will involve a preliminary competition involving the bottom 6 teams with top 2 teams advancing to the Final Competition. The Final Competition will involve the top 6 teams (and the two qualifiers from the preliminary competition) to play in an 8 team tournament in one venue with semi-final and final. (The final competition must be in a country that can broadcast live television)

Olympic, Under 20, Under 17, Under 15, Women’s (Senior, Under 19), Futsal.

For all remaining tournaments all teams are drawn into two groups (or more if required) and the tournament is played in one venue with a semi-final and final. This will not apply to the upcoming OFC Under 20 tournament in December 2002 and OFC Under 17 tournament and Olympic tournaments in 2003 since the tournament formats in these tournaments have been already confirmed as being played in two different venues with group winner play offs.

The Executive Committee will look further at this topic at their next meeting since the format of the tournaments in 2002 and 2003 will not be affected by the decisions taken at this meeting with respect to the format of tournaments.

2.         2002 OFC Under 20 Qualifying Tournament

Although the Executive Committee had agreed that in future this tournament would be played in one venue. It was confirmed that the tournament in December 2002 will be played in two groups with the winner of each group playing off home and away since it has been already decided previously to play this tournament in two venues. It was agreed that the new format will apply to subsequent Under 20 tournaments.

Re-draw of the Groups

Following the withdrawal of American Samoa, Tahiti and Solomon Islands from Group B there was a readjustment of the groups. As a result Samoa and Tonga who were drawn into Group A will now join Group B. The new groups are as follows:

Group            A (Vanuatu)                                      Group B (Fiji)          

Australia                                                         Fiji

Vanuatu                                                          New Zealand            

Papua New Guinea                                      New Caledonia

Cook Islands                                                  Tonga

                                                                        Samoa

Dates:             Group matches:       9- 16 December 2002

Play off match 1:       19 December 2002

Play off match 2:       22 December 2002

Venues for play off matches

It was agreed that the order of the play off matches will be as follows:

Play off match 1:       19 December 2002              Hosted by the winner of Group A

Play off match 2:       22 December 2002              Hosted by the winner of Group B

It is noted that the two group winners may by agreement change the dates, venues and order of matches.

 3.         2003 OFC Under 15 (Boys) Tournament

The 2003 OFC Under 15 Tournament was scheduled for Apia, Samoa from 6-16 January 2003. However OFC received entries from only four national associations for this tournament. The national associations who had not entered the tournament stated the busy tournament schedule during December to February as a reason for not entering this tournament. It was confirmed to defer this tournament until May 2003. 

4.         2003 OFC Under 17 QualifyingTournament

Although the Executive Committee had agreed that in future the Under 17 tournament would be played in one venue. It was confirmed that the Under 17 tournament in February 2003 will be played in two groups with the winner of each group playing off home and away since it had been already decided previously to play this tournament in two venues. It was agreed that the new format will apply to subsequent Under 17 tournaments. However should American Samoa advise that they are not in a position to host the Group A tournament then both Groups will play in one venue with a cross over semi-final and final. (Queensland has been proposed as the venue if the tournament is to be held in one venue – see below)

Group A (American Samoa)                                 Group B (Australia)

American Samoa                                                      Tahiti  

New Caledonia                                                         Tonga

Cook Islands                                                              New Zealand

Samoa                                                                       Solomon Islands

Fiji                                                                               Vanuatu

Papua New Guinea                                                  Australia

Re-draw of the Groups

Some national associations in Group B had requested that the there be a redraw of the two groups as they believed that the top Under 17 teams in OFC have been drawn into their group. i.e. the teams that finished in the top 4 of the OFC Under 16 tournament held in Sydney in January 2002 are all drawn into Group B.  Since it was agreed previously by the OFC Executive Committee that there will be no seeding in this tournament the groupings for this tournament remain unchanged.

Venues

The Solomon Islands Football Federation has said that because of some of the concerns raised by some of the national associations in Group B as Solomon Islands as the host country, they agreed to move the Group B tournament to either the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast in Australia.

The American Samoa Football Association has advised that they were still in a position to host the Group A tournament but would let OFC know by October 2002, if this situation would change.   Should American Samoa Football Association not be in a position to host the Group A tournament then the Group A tournament would also be played in the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.  

We will then have both groups playing in Australia (Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast) with a cross over semi-final and final.

Dates:                       

Group matches Group A (American Samoa):     13^th -21^st February 2003

Group matches Group B (Australia):                     15^th -24^tht February 2003

Venues for play off matches

It was also confirmed that should there be play-offs in this tournament the order of play offs shall be as follows:

Play off match 1:       27^th February 2003              Hosted by the winner of Group A

Play off match 2:       2^nd March 2003                     Hosted by the winner of Group B

It is noted that the two group winners may by agreement change the dates, venues and order of matches.

5.         2003 OFC Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament

It was confirmed that the 2003 OFC Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament will be held from the 5^th – 13^th April 2003. It is proposed by Soccer Australia that Canberra will host the tournament but this will be confirmed by the Soccer Australia Board at meeting on 18^th September 2002. It was further agreed that Australia and New Zealand will be seeded into each group and the remaining entries will be drawn by lots into the two groups.

6.         2004 OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Men)

The 2004 OFC Olympic qualifying tournament for Men will involve two groups of teams in a round robin competition played in two different venues. The winner of each group will play each other home and away to find the winner.

The following national associations have been drawn into two groups as follows:

Group A (in Australia)                                Group B (in New Zealand)

Australia                                                         New Zealand

Samoa                                                           Cook Islands

Papua New Guinea                                      American Samoa

Solomon Islands                                            Samoa

Fiji                                                                   Tonga

Dates of the Tournament

Soccer Australia advised that since they had already made arrangements with their players and their clubs based on the tournament being held in June it was not appropriate to change the dates at this late stage.

However with New Zealand involved in the Confederations Cup from 18-29 June 2003 and the island countries involved in the South Pacific Games from 28 June 2003, it was confirmed that this tournament must be held in early June. The OFC Secretariat will contact both Soccer New Zealand and Soccer Australia to confirm the exact dates and the venues of the respective group tournaments.

Venues for play off matches

It was agreed that the order of the play off matches will be as follows:

Play off match 1:       Date to be confirmed           Hosted by the winner of Group A

Play off match 2:       Date to be confirmed                       Hosted by the winner of Group B

It is noted that the two group winners may by agreement change the dates, venues and order of matches.

7.         2003 South Pacific Games – Fiji – June/July 2003

The 2003 South Pacific Games will be held in Fiji from 28 June – 12 July 2003. There will be both a Men’s and Women’s Tournament at the Games. It was agreed that this tournament will be recognised an official OFC tournament. OFC will provide financial assistance in the sum of NZD 15,000 per national association to assist with travel and accommodation (regardless of the number of teams that national association will enter in the tournament i.e. a men’s and women’s team or a men’s team only)

It was noted also that Fiji Football Association will confirm with the South Pacific Games Organising Committee on who is responsible for the travel and accommodation and allowances for the referees appointed to officiate in this tournament.

8.         2003 OFC Futsal Cup

It was confirmed that the 2003 OFC Futsal Cup which will be a qualifying tournament for the 2004 FIFA World Futsal Cup will be held in Australia in September 2003. Soccer Australia to confirm the venue city and exact dates in due course.

9.         2003 OFC Club Championship

The OFC Club Championship had been postponed from 2002 to 2003 because there will be no FIFA Club Championship until 2005. It was therefore agreed that the tournament will be deferred until further notice.

 OFC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 2002 -2004

21 May 2002

FIFA candidates support Oceania direct entry

FIFA President, Joseph Blatter reiterated his stance yesterday that Oceania should have a direct entry to the World Cup while his rival in the upcoming FIFA elections, Issa Hayatou, of Cameroon also supported an Oceania entry but differing with Mr Blatter on the solution to this long-standing issue.

Both candidates for the FIFA presidency made a brief stopover in Auckland, New Zealand en route to Tonga for the 17^th OFC Ordinary Congress which gets underway today. Both candidates were expected to address the delegates at some point during the Congress.

However, the decision by both Mr Blatter and Mr Hayatou to grant press conferences yesterday was warmly met by the local media and those media from Australia that made the trip over on late notice. At the Press Conference, Mr Blatter responded strongly to allegations made against him in the lead up to the FIFA Congress this weekend. He also pointed towards his explanatory statement that was posted in the FIFA website yesterday and sent out to National Associations.

Though the allegations dominated most of the talking points, the main focus was on Oceania gaining direct entry. And when it was learned that morning that Mr Hayatou would front up to the media also, the opinions of both candidates were hotly anticipated.

Mr Blatter explained that a place would be made for OFC by not granting automatic qualification for the winner of the World Cup. Mr Hayatou, a FIFA vice president and also CAF (Africa) president, explained that CONMEBOL (South America) should drop one of their entries at least as they have only ten member countries, the smallest membership in the FIFA family. He added that any decision on this issue would be determined by the full FIFA executive and not one person.

Currently OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) is the only Confederation in the FIFA family without a direct entry to what many describe as the “greatest stage in sports.” Only two Oceania countries have ever been to the World Cup on separate occasions; Australia and New Zealand. Australia came close to qualifying last year losing to Uruguay in a home and away series on points aggregate despite winning the first game in Melbourne, 1-0.

But recently a wave of support has given hope to OFC’s eleven member family and its provisional and affiliate members who are spread over perhaps one of the largest geographical areas – that is the Pacific Ocean. The OFC has recently been granted direct entry to the Olympic Games effective from the 2004 in Athens, Greece.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Rees

OFC Media Officer

rees@ofcfoot.org.nz

Oceania Football Confederation PO Box 62, 586 Central Park Auckland 6 New Zealand

Tel (649) 525 8161   Fax (649) 525 8164   info@ofcfoot.org.nz

4 May 2002

 Australia gets tough draw for U-19 World Champs

 The Australian ‘Young Matildas’ Under 19 Women’s team have been drawn in a tough group for the FIFA Under 19 Women’s World Championship which kicks off in Canada on 17 August till 1 September.

 Australia is in Group C with USA, England and Chinese Taipei. All Group C matches will be held in Victoria, Canada, at the Centennial Stadium.

 In the other groups, hosts Canada join Denmark, Nigeria and Japan in Group A with matches to be played in Edmonton at the Commonwealth Stadium. In Group B, Germany will be joined by France, Mexico and Brazil with matches to be played in Vancouver at the Swangard Stadium.

 This brand new FIFA competition will take place in Canada from 17 August to 1 September 2002.

 Australia qualified after winning the OFC U-19 Women’s Qualifiers in Tonga from 23 April – 3 May 2002. They beat New Zealand in the final 6-0 with Tonga beating Samoa 2-0 for third place.

For more information contact:

 Peter Rees

OFC Media Officer

rees@ofcfoot.org.nz

3 May 2002                

  Soccer back in South Pacific Games

 Soccer was the winner after a decision to reinstate the sport back into the South Pacific Games programme. This comes into effect in Suva, Fiji next year when the next South Pacific Games will be held. 

 An OFC delegation met with the South Pacific Games Council in Suva last month to discuss the issue of reinstating soccer, which was last included at the 1995 SP Games in Tahiti.

It was decided to amend the SP Games Charter to allow the tournament to be run under FIFA regulations in terms of player eligibility. Previously, the SP Games Charter interpretation of player eligibility was seen to contradict the FIFA rules, which states a player must be a national of that country and cannot play for any other country once he has committed. The SP Games Charter allows expatriates who have met residency requirements and have resided in that country for at least four years.

 This clause applied across the board for all sports in the SP Games programmes, which was why it was difficult to amend the charter as not all countries of the South Pacific Games Council are affiliated to FIFA. Furthermore, the SP Games Council had not been able to reach a two thirds majority when the issue had been brought up in the past because of other conflicting views.

 Soccer was pulled from the last South Pacific Games in Guam in 1999 after the FIFA decided that its member affiliates could not participate under the current regulations.

This affected the 11 member nations of OFC and Guam, who are affiliated to the Asian Football Confederation.

 However, an amicable agreement was reached in last month’s meeting. It was decided to amend the SP Games Charter to make a special admission for Football, and to let it run under International Federation (IF) rules.

The amendment made to the SP Games Charter is as follows:

 Article XI. B

 The SPG Council accepts the principle that under specific circumstances, paragraphs 1 to 3 may not be applied to a particular sport or event on the SPG programme or SPMG programme.

In this case, the IF rules concerning eligibility will apply to the considered sport or event.

  The decision has proven popular, considering soccer is the most popular and widely played sport in the Oceania region and the world. Host nation, Fiji, also has a large soccer following and large crowds are likely for the soccer tournament at the 2003 South Pacific Games.

 Most importantly, the SP Games will give another opportunity for those OFC affiliates to gain more competition with the phasing out of the Polynesian and Melanesian tournaments.

 The OFC affiliates and New Caledonia only have the World Cup qualifiers every four years and the OFC Nations Cup every two years and no other competitions for senior national teams in-between, so the decision will allow the Pacific countries more chances to play each other and improve their chances when they meet the higher ranked nations of Australia and New Zealand in the major tournaments.

 For more information contact:

Peter Rees

OFC Media Officer