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WORLD SPORT
NEWS ROUND UP
Hungary
Budapest to host
2017 FINA World
Championships
The
Internat ional
Aquat ics
Association (Fina) announced that
Budapest will be the new host of
its 17th World Championships and
World Masters Championships in
July 2017. FINA’s most prestigious
event showcases the Federation’s
six disciplines: swimming, div-
ing, high diving, water polo, syn-
chronised swimming and open
water swimming in 2017.
New Zealand
New Zealand are to take legal action af ter their men’s team were thrown out of Olympic
qualifying for f ielding an ineligible player.
The Kiwis were due to play Fiji in the f inal of the Oceania qualif iers af ter beating
Vanuatu 2-0 in the semi-f inals. However the Oceania Football Confederation (OCF)
upheld Vanuatu’s protest that South-African born Deklan Wynne was ineligible to play
in the match. Vanuatu were then awarded a 3-0 win, but lost to Fiji in the f inal.
Fiji will represent the Oceania region at next year ’s Rio Olympics af ter beating Vanuatu
4-3 on penalties.
Lef t-back Wynne, 20, represented New Zealand at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup last
month and has played at senior level af ter becoming a naturalised New Zealander.
The OCF’s disciplinary committee ruled that Wynne did not meet any of the criteria
that would allow him to represent New Zealand as set out in article seven of the Fifa
statutes. Wynne, who was not born in New Zealand and doesn’ t have a New Zealand
parent or grandparent, would have to have lived in New Zealand for f ive years from the
age of 18 to be eligible.
New Zealand Football said it was not aware of the disciplinary hearing and was told the
matter was being referred to Fifa.
They are now working with their lawyers to contest the committee’s decision.
UAE
2019 Asian Cup goes to UAE
The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) has awarded the hosting rights for the 2019
edition of the Asian Cup to the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is set to use stadiums in
three cities – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain.
The UAE saw of f competition from the IR Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) to land the
hosting rights to the quadrennial tournament. The UAE and Iran were the only two
nations lef t in the bidding process af ter early interest from the likes of China, Lebanon,
Oman, Thailand, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia failed to materialise into of f icial bids.
Iran’s chances of staging the competition were considered slim due to the country ’s
unwillingness to allow women to attend matches.
The awarding of the hosting rights comes af ter the conclusion of this year ’s Asian Cup,
which took place in Australia from January 9-31. The host nation beat South Korea 2-1
af ter extra time in the f inal to secure its f irst-ever title.
The 2015 competition was the last edition of the Asian Cup to feature just 16 teams,
with the 2019 event to be expanded to include 24 sides. The AFC is said to be keen for
more of its members to compete in the tournament and has merged the qualifying pro-
cess for the competition with the one used for the FIFA World Cup.
Kiwis take legal action over Olympic football disqualification
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TOUCHLINE
ISSUE 21 | AUGUST 2015