EXCLUSIVE: Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund has called for New Zealand to be included in the Asian Football Confederation as the club battles for an A-League finals berth.
New Zealand is currently top dog in the Oceania zone and have earned the right to meet the winners of AFC's third placed nations in AFC World Cup qualifiers.
Sigmund, capped eight times for his country since debuting in 2007, told au.fourfourtwo.com that instead of playing against OFC nations, the Kiwis should be part of the FIFA's most populus confederation.
"I'd love to, it's the best thing for New Zealand football," he said of the All-Whites joining AFC.
"But I don't want to think about it too much."
The fact that an OFC club is playing in an AFC league has been viewed suspiciously from AFC head office, particularly by AFC head honcho Mohamed Bin Hammam – a man with growing influence in world football's corridors of power.
"I think we got wind of it all and it sounds as though there's work to be done to keep us in the A-League – at least until 2011," added Sigmund.
"In that two year gap hopefully something will be sorted."
Sigmund, capped eight times for his country since debuting in 2007, told au.fourfourtwo.com that instead of playing against OFC nations, the Kiwis should be part of the FIFA's most populus confederation.
"I'd love to, it's the best thing for New Zealand football," he said of the All-Whites joining AFC.
"But I don't want to think about it too much."
The fact that an OFC club is playing in an AFC league has been viewed suspiciously from AFC head office, particularly by AFC head honcho Mohamed Bin Hammam – a man with growing influence in world football's corridors of power.
"I think we got wind of it all and it sounds as though there's work to be done to keep us in the A-League – at least until 2011," added Sigmund.
"In that two year gap hopefully something will be sorted."
Related Articles
Victory shake-up: Talay in line to replace Popovic at ailing A-League giants
Is New Zealand ready for its own A-League derby?
