10 Oct 2007

Fiji footballer refused visa into New Zealand for World Cup qualifying games

3:04 pm on 10 October 2007

The New Zealand government has banned one Fiji footballer from coming into the country for the Oceania World Cup qualifying match against the All Whites in Auckland this weekend, because of links with the military.

New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand are involved in the home and away qualifiers.

The move has angered the President of Fiji FA who says there's been nothing but delays since they agreed to move their match against New Zealand five weeks ahead of schedule because the Port Vila Stadium in Vanuatu was not up to international standards.

Dr Sahu Khan says he heard about the ban from New Zealand's Acting high commissioner.

"She rang me up personally and said they've granted visa to all the others except this goal keeper Simione Tamanisau, he's a policeman. Just because his father in law is in the army they have refused the visa on that ground and which I thought was an absolutely ridiculous things to say."