New Zealand Football...and Oceania Football Confederation.

Courtesy of Oceania Football Confederation.

Outcomes of OFC Executive Committee meeting

The OFC Executive Committee met in Auckland on Thursday 12 May to review the format of several competitions, examine the financial position of the confederation and confirm OFC’s support for the re-election of FIFA President Joseph Blatter.

The meeting was held at OFC headquarters and included the following attendees: OFC President David Chung, Senior Vice President Martin Alufurai, Vice President Lee Harmon, Treasurer Dr. Muhammed Shams-UD-Dean Sahu Khan, Executive Members Fred de Jong, Lambert Maltock, Toetu Petana, observer Alex Godinet, General Secretary Tai Nicholas and general secretariat staff. It was the first gathering of the Executive Committee since the opening meeting of the year in February and OFC President David Chung began by updating the members on the progress of his ‘First 100 Days’ of office initiative. In alignment with the OFC Vision 2018, the 100-day plan aims to achieve certain milestones in key areas, many of which have been completed or are currently being carried out. Attention then turned to finance and administration matters, during which the annual audited accounts for 2010 were approved. The accounts showed an $11 million turnover with an operating surplus of $975,930. Decisions were also made on a range of OFC competitions and other matters before the Executive Committee members confirmed their support for President Blatter in the upcoming FIFA elections. For the full list of outcomes see below. The OFC Executive Committee: - Approved the annual audited accounts for 2010. - Agreed that the format of the O-League will change from the 2011-12 season. The two New Zealand clubs will be placed in different groups – one will be drawn with the club champions of Fiji, New Caledonia and Tahiti while the other will compete in the second group with the champions of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. - No preliminary tournament for the 2011-12 O-League will be played. Instead, the champion teams from American Samoa, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga will take part in a pilot stand-alone tournament. It is proposed that this competition will in future seasons become a preliminary tournament with the winner qualifying to play off for a place in the O-League. - A proposal to revive the OFC Nations Cup for 2012, which involved the All Whites and five of the Pacific Island nations, was deferred to 2015. Instead, a Pacific Cup (involving the top five teams from the 2011 Pacific Games and possibly the New Zealand Olympic team) will be held in February 2012. - Agreed that there would be no change to the FIFA World Cup qualification process. New Zealand will play off with the three top-placed teams from the 2011 Pacific Games to find Oceania’s representative. The play-off series will start in June 2012. - Agreed to support the re-election of FIFA President Joseph Blatter due to the range of initiatives that have positively impacted the region under his leadership. The next OFC Executive Committee meeting will be held during the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia between the dates of August 27 and September 10.

Updated On Saturday, May 14, 2011 http://tinyurl.com/3twa4m2 NZF opt for Blatter control SIMON PLUMB Last updated 05:00 15/05/2011     NEW Zealand Football have confirmed their vote for Sepp Blatter ahead of the Fifa presidential election in 18 days. Chairman Frank van Hattum yesterday told Sunday News that an NZF decision has already been made and he will personally cast the vote in Zurich, Switzerland, on June 1 (June 2, NZT). With fresh corruption allegations hanging over both Blatter and Qatari opposition candidate Mohammed bin Hammam – allegations now prompting a British parliamentary inquiry – van Hattum said until "muck-raking" turns to proof he has no reason to doubt the credibility of either man, or indeed, Fifa. NZF's decision to vote for Blatter, van Hattum explained, was based on the Swiss' substantial contribution to the Oceania Football Confederation since securing world football's top job in 1998. "The tack we're taking is the Fifa president [Blatter] has done a hell of lot for this region and New Zealand and we're happy to support that vote on the day," van Hattum said. "It was discussed at the last board meeting and at the end of the day we're happy with the decision the OFC is wanting us to reach. "It's also the way we are seeing it and we have the authority to vote on the day as we see fit. "It all goes back – we've had a terrific run out of Fifa and the president who has been particularly supportive on a number of initiatives and, as far as we're concerned, there's been a lot of progress and we don't see any reason that wouldn't continue." When asked if a decision has been reached already, van Hattum replied: "Yes, I think it is fair to say that." He also questioned the motives behind the English FA's "rumour and innuendo", having recently lost a bid to host the 2018 World Cup to Russia, and the timing of their escalated allegations around World Cup vote rigging. "It's always disappointing when your sport gets muck-raked and you do question the motivation of the people doing it," van Hattum said. "If they [The FA] had all this information, why hasn't it been forthcoming for people to act on it? "I'm totally disappointed in the rumour and innuendo. The behaviour is not appropriate." On Thursday night, the OFC circulated a press release re-affirming its support for Blatter. And while van Hattum said the OFC's wishes have no influence over NZF's decision, he suggested: "The OFC is unified and we have been given some great opportunities out of Fifa." Following last year's World Cup voting scandal, which hooked the OFC and then president Reynald Temarii, van Hattum has campaigned for increased transparency. He rejected the concept that voting for Blatter, or bin Hammam, could be perceived in any way hypocritical. Van Hattum did express the need for change within Fifa, adding he trusted Blatter's recent vows to oversee reform. "There's a number of issues and many organisations constantly look at things they're doing," he said. "So yes, I think they've already signalled they need to change processes and be very clear on how decisions are made. "Fifa's already signalled that current practices need to be reviewed. We're therefore happy to give him [Blatter] the chance to do that. You can't ask for more." Asked if he had a message for fans who might be unhappy with NZF voting for Blatter, van Hattum described the position as "ridiculous" and adopted by "silly people". "We're a body elected to do the best for New Zealand Football," he said. "There's no way I'm going to sit there because silly people suddenly decide they'd rather have them, or them [in charge]. That's an absolutely ridiculous statement. "By all means have an opinion but back it up with fact." - Sunday News http://tinyurl.com/42n4glw "The meeting was held at OFC headquarters and included the following attendees: OFC President David Chung, Senior Vice President Martin Alufurai, Vice President Lee Harmon, Treasurer Dr. Muhammed Shams-UD-Dean Sahu Khan, Executive Members Fred de Jong, Lambert Maltock, Toetu Petana, observer Alex Godinet, General Secretary Tai Nicholas and general secretariat staff". How come Frank van Hattum is going to Zurich, Switzerland to vote for the current FIFA President, Sepp Blatter? He is not the President of Oceania Football Confederation, David Chung is. van Hattum is just a mere chairman...A BULLY and a BIGOT! Looks to me from who attended the OFC meeting in Auckland that he was not even in attendance. I sent an e-mail to NZF to their media communications person, calling van Hattum an "Arsehole" and that it should be Terry's name at the top of that chairman's report. I have also lodged a complaint with FIFA about van Hattum's Bullying tactics i.e. 'Threat of Legal Action' against Under 10 year old children who want to play soccer, their schools and those who are responsible wanted to form a 'BREAKAWAY COMPETITION' as Central Football does not have a programme for these Taranaki school children (Not part of their programme)...NZF are just 'Money Hungry' and I have also quoted in my complaint the FIFA Ethics committee rules and regulations. Not only that...The VIOLATION of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Kiaora Terry...Terry is the man who owns the WELLINGTON PHOENIX FC and he is the one in this image in the knee-length grey looking Garbadine coat. I support this man, because if it were not for him firstly BUYING THE A-LEAGUE LICENSE THAT AUCKLAND KINGZ LOST and Terry bringing David Beckham the LA Galaxy to Wellington (Terry's Home City), Aotearoa aka nz and Terry and his NIX Foundation members putting in the hard yackers along with Ricki Herbert...we would not have a professional football club and New Zealand would still be in the 'WILDERNESS' and we would NOT have qualified or experienced  the inclusion in the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa...That acknowledgement SOLELY BELONGS TO TERRY SEREPISOS and his Phoenix Foundation members - 'Arising from the ASHES'...along with the illustrious FIFA coaching panelist and Wellington Phoenix/ All Whites manager, Ricki Herbert.