SOCCER QUALIFICATIONS Players Given Time Limit

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 19

SOCCER QUALIFICATIONS Players Given Time Limit

CNew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

Players who have not applied for New Zealand citizenship within the next 12 days will not be considered for the national soccer team’s matches against the English FA. side next month.

The chairman of the New Zealand Football Association (Mr J. C. Cowie) said this last night when commenting on the citizenship status of prospective members of New Zealand’s World Cup side.

Mr Cowie said that forms asking details of residential

qualifications had been sent to 40 players, but only five had been returned. •These were all from New Zealand-born players,” he said. “We have a trial match in Wellington on Sunday and another on Sunday week, and players who have not applied for New Zealand citizenship by then will not be considered for the national matches against the FA. side.” To play in the World Cup, overseas players have to register as New Zealand citizens. They do not have to turn in British passports to do this.

The residential qualification for New Zealand citizenship is three years, but the Internal Affairs Department has the power to reduce this to one year. Mr Cowie said representations would be made to the department to shorten the qualification period if it was thought desirable.