Financial bonanza awaits N.Z.F.A.

Press, 21 May 1981, Page 32

Financial bonanza awaits N.Z.F.A.

A financial bonanza awaits the New Zealand Football Association if New Zealand can reach the World Cup finals in Spain next year. A clear profit of close on $1,009,000 can be expected should New Zealand win through to the finals. Television fees negotiated by F.1.F.A., world soccer’s controlling body, are believed to be above $47,000,000, of which 15 per cent goes to F.I.F.A. and 15 per cent is allocated to the host country. The other 60 per cent is divided among the 24 countries which will take part in the trials. All expenses involved in travelling to the finals, accommodation, and air fares are paid by F.I.F.A.

The N.Z.F.A. World Cup director, Mr Charlie Dempsey, who has done as much, probably more, than anyone towards the venture, believes the rewards will be tremendous.

He pointed out that for competing in the 1974 finals,

Australia received $380,000. Eight years later, with inflation to consider, he feels that New Zealand, should it qualify, would pick, up “a minimum” of $.500,000 and more likely closer to double that figure. As an example of the sort of money involved in the World Cup programme, Mr Dempsey stated that the net G’ofit from the Indonesiaew Zealand match in Jakarta 10 days ago was $150,000. But for Mr Dempsey, who conceded this will probably be his last involvement in World Cup soccer, qualifying for Spain would merely be the icing on the cake.

“If we can win this group, it will have vindicated all the struggle and worry we have had,” he said. He added that in 20 years of soccer administration in New Zealand, he had never been “more excited” about the sport’s prospects in the country. '

Meanwhile, Mr Dempsey was adamant that New Zealand 'would not favour a tournament in Kuala Lumpur if it can qualify for the final round of matches against China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Mr Dempsey, justifiably, wants New Zealand to play three of those six games at home. He said, however, that he saw no reason why New Zealand could not play its other three games in Kuala Lumpur, effectively its away matches. 1

Australia, content in the belief that it would be the group qualifier, had jumped the gun by telling F.I.F.A. that it would be happy with a tournament.

But if New Zealand can beat Indonesia in Auckland on Saturday, that should be the final nail in the coffin for Australia’s 1982 World Cup bid.

New Zealand’s final two matches are both at home, to Taiwan on May 30, and against Fiji in August.