laz
November 6th, 2006, 04:06 PM
"The problem is nothing to do with the NZFC red tape. It's FIFA red tape.
We have a nationwide national league that is in it's third season, played during the Summer like the A-League. Beneath that there is a regional series of Leagues, I would suggest the equivalent of Australian State Leagues. In fact NZ domestic football is about 12 months ahead of the Australian model, albeit with an ostensibly amateur competition. There is no fragmentation at all.
The problem is that the Knights are an Australian club, affiliated to the FFA with the FFA holding player registrations. The NZFC clubs are New Zealand clubs. If you move between them you make an international transfer and FIFA say you are only allowed one per season. These are the same rules that would impact an Australian player moving to Europe for 4 weeks.
This means there is no way you can move back to domestic football for up to 8 months. Add to this the FIFA rules differences for stepping between an officially amateur New Zealand national league and a professional Australian league and back again and it becomes a nightmare.
This is why the Knights currently sign Australians on 4 week deals, if they then release the Australian they can play again the next week somewhere, New Zealand based players would be expected to put their football career on hold for 8 months or more and understandably many won't willingly take that risk.
If people want a useful campaign then petition FIFA to change those rules, or the FFA to remove the fact that one Australian club isn't allowed to play in the Asians Champions League even if they qualify. "
after having a chat on the nz forum i can see why they are doing so badly, all the ozzi teams have an unfair advantage.
We have a nationwide national league that is in it's third season, played during the Summer like the A-League. Beneath that there is a regional series of Leagues, I would suggest the equivalent of Australian State Leagues. In fact NZ domestic football is about 12 months ahead of the Australian model, albeit with an ostensibly amateur competition. There is no fragmentation at all.
The problem is that the Knights are an Australian club, affiliated to the FFA with the FFA holding player registrations. The NZFC clubs are New Zealand clubs. If you move between them you make an international transfer and FIFA say you are only allowed one per season. These are the same rules that would impact an Australian player moving to Europe for 4 weeks.
This means there is no way you can move back to domestic football for up to 8 months. Add to this the FIFA rules differences for stepping between an officially amateur New Zealand national league and a professional Australian league and back again and it becomes a nightmare.
This is why the Knights currently sign Australians on 4 week deals, if they then release the Australian they can play again the next week somewhere, New Zealand based players would be expected to put their football career on hold for 8 months or more and understandably many won't willingly take that risk.
If people want a useful campaign then petition FIFA to change those rules, or the FFA to remove the fact that one Australian club isn't allowed to play in the Asians Champions League even if they qualify. "
after having a chat on the nz forum i can see why they are doing so badly, all the ozzi teams have an unfair advantage.