N.Z. soccer team may withdraw from Spain

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 1

N.Z. soccer team may withdraw from Spain

PA Auckland New Zealand’s soccer hierarchy ultimately would be guided by the Government if it were required to make a decision on whether to play in the World Cup finals in Spain in view of the confrontation between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands. New Zealand’s World Cup director, Mr Charlie Dempsey, said last evening, “We would have to be seen to be acting in the best interests of New Zealand." He had been asked to

comment on a report in the London-based “Sunday Telegraph” that political alignment would split the World Cup nations “down the middle,” and that the June event stood “in peril of disintegration.” “New Zealand, if asked, would back Britain, along with Chile ...” said the paper’s sports editor, David Grice, who speculated on the rift that might develop should the Falklands situation deteriorate, and quoted unnamed diplomatic sources as disclosing that England,

Scotland, and Northern Ireland would withdraw from the finals if Argentina went to Europe to defend the title it won on home soil four years ago. Mr Dempsey said last evening that his association had “no position in the matter at present” as it had not been asked. “But as a footballing nation we have always aligned ourselves with Europe,” said Mr Dempsey. “We are only a minute part of the affair, but if it came to the crunch we would have

to be guided by the Government. We would have to be seen to be acting in the best interests of New Zealand.” However, he hoped that the whole situation would resolve itself. “In my opinion, if the situation developed into war I think the code’s governing body would act and Argentina would withdraw,” he said. The. “Sunday Telegraph” article said that initial moves were already believed to have been made by Britain to persuade the Euro-

pean Economic Community to join forces in attempting to eject Argentina from the 1982 competition. “That line of approach will be aimed at F.1.F.A., world soccer’s governing body, and would plainly be a potent weapon of persuasion since Italy, West Germany, Austria, Belgium, and France would all become involved,” he said. “F.I.F.A. is known to be studying the general position,” wrote Grice. “Political alignment splits

the World Cup nations down the middle. New Zealand, if asked, would back Britain, along with Chile, which has already made its position abundantly clear over the Falklands affair because of its own strategic involvement in the area. “Cameroon, Algeria, and Kuwait would also tend to adopt a pro-Western attitude, while Argentina would expect support from the Eastern bloc countries — the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,

and Yugoslavia — together with Peru and El Salvador. "Honduras, which has troubles of its own, remains neutral at present, along with Brazil, the home country of Joao Havelange, F.I.F.A.’s president.

“Spain finds itself in an invidious position. Normally pro-South American, the World Cup host nation is also at present on the fringe of Common Market membership. Spain, too, would have most to lose financially.”