12 Jun 2015

Sport: Oceania football countries urged to stick together

10:52 am on 12 June 2015

The President of the Solomon Islands Football Federation believes Oceania countries should stick together and says it's disappointing that New Zealand changed its voting stance at the last minute.

The President of the Solomon Islands Football Federation believes Oceania countries should stick together and says it's disappointing that New Zealand changed its voting stance at the last minute.

All 11 nations of the Oceania Football Confederation pledged their support for Sepp Blatter in January but New Zealand broke ranks and voted for his Jordanian rival at last month's FIFA Congress.

The President of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, William Lai, says he agrees with New Zealand that change is required at FIFA, but says Sepp Blatter has helped Oceania a lot during his tenure.

He says Oceania is only small and would be stronger if everyone was on the same page.

"It should [be] inclusive on New Zealand and unfortunately at this moment of time New Zealand seems to be far better than the island nations and he is trying to attempt to be looking at that way. This is very unfortunate - we should work together as a region. In terms of politics, in terms of everything I think we should work together and these other in-house issues we should work together for the betterment of this region".

William Lai says the next FIFA President should be someone who cares for world football and the small island nations too.

Solomon Islands Football Federation President William Lai.

Solomon Islands Football Federation President William Lai. Photo: Solomon Islands Football