F.I.F.A. secretary hits out at N.Z. officials

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 38

F.I.F.A. secretary hits out at N.Z. officials

NZPA London The general secretary of F.I.F.A. has hit out at New Zealand soccer officials’ reaction to the appointment of an Asian referee and linesmen to the country’s return match against Kuwait next month. Mr Sett Blatter said from Switzerland yesterday that a month ago the organisation received a letter from the New Zealand ■ Football Association thanking it for the appointment of Asian referees and expressing its happiness with the arrange- . ments F.I.F.A. had made. Mr Blatter said that at a 4 meeting at Kuala Lumpur in June, the ■ N.Z.F.A. had

specifically asked for the appointment of Asian referees and linesmen. ! “When they are winning they are happy with Asian referees, and when they are losing they are not,” he said. "New Zealand should be more consistent in their line of policy. Now they have had some problems they think everything can be changed.” Mr Blatter said he did not consider that the problem the New Zealand association had with the crowd at the last match had anything to do with the referee. "They should have had enough security to enforce order during and after the game,” he said. “We did

consider forbidding them to hold the next match in the same stadium because of the lack of order. "However, we have now fined the organisation and put forward strong recommendations for better security in the future. As well, a special delegate from Europe has been appointed as match inspector.” New Zealand’s World Cup director, Charlie Dempsey, confirmed in Auckland, yesterday that a letter had been sent to F.I.F.A. requesting a change 'of referee for next month’s New Zealand-Kuwait game in Kuwait. “Now I intend to follow this up with a phone call to Mr Blatter,” said Mr Demp-

sey. “We can only make the request, we cannot demand a change of referee.” Mr Dempsey denied that New Zealand had asked for the appointment of Asian referees and linesmen at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur in June. At that time, New Zealand-had agreed with the decision. Mr Blatter said that only one country, Saudi Arabia, had asked that Asian referees and linesmen not be appointed for their country’s matches. In accordance with their wishes, he said, European and South American referees and linesmen had been appointed for the Saudi Arabian matches.

New Zealand, however, has had one off-field victory since last ' month’s home game against Kuwait. An Argentinian, Mr Arturo Andes Ithurralde, has been appointed by F.I.F.A. to referee New Zealand’s home game against Saudi Arabia at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday week. The linesmen for this, New Zealand’s third-to-last World Cup qualifying match, will be Messrs Don Campbell! and Tony. Boskovic, both Australians. A Dutchman, Mr Charles Corver, will referee New Zealand’s away match against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, Saudi . Arabia, on December 19. The linesmen

for this game have not yet been named. - Meanwhile the Hong Kong soccer referee who has found himself at the centre of its controversy over his appointment to control New Zealand’s match against Kuwait said yesterday it made no difference to him whether he controlled the match or not. But Chan Tam-sun said since learning three weeks ago of his appointment to the match, which will be played in Kuwait on December 14. he had made arrangements for leave from his government job. Mr Chan said he did understand the situation: “It is 100 per cent politics," he told N.Z.P.A. in Hong Kong,

adding that politics meant nothing to him. Agreeing that the New Zealand protest put him in an awkward position, he said that if F.I.F.A. decided to cancel the appointment, his attitude would be “never mind.” He said he had nothing to say which would reflect against the New Zealand attitude, but Mr Chan said he was well aware that the result of the match could have a bearing on China's chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals in Spain next year. "New Zealand would be wrong if they think I am biased.” he said., , ; Mr Chan, aged 40, said:he

was born and educated in Hong • Kong. As a soccer player he captained Hong Kong schoolboys. He has been refereeing for 12 years and has been a F.I.F.A. referee since 1975. In 1976 he refereed a match between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland. His other F.I.F.A. appointments have included the match between Uruguay and Poland to decide third and fourth places at the world youth championships in Tokyo two years ago. "F.I.F.A. wouldn’t have appointed me to this match if my assessment reports had not been satisfactory,” he said. ■ .