FIFA says its disciplinary committee will not intervene in the matter which led to New Zealand being kicked out of the Olympic qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player.
New Zealand's under‑23 side was expelled from the Oceania zone qualifying tournament after Vanuatu lodged a protest against the eligibility of South African‑born defender Deklan Wynne with the Oceania Football Confederation disciplinary committee.
The committee deemed Wynne, who moved to New Zealand as a child with his family, was ineligible and awarded the game to Vanuatu.
New Zealand football say they had been led to believe that world governing body FIFA would be making a ruling on the outcome of Vanuatu's appeal.
FIFA's Olympic regulations state that "protests regarding the eligibility of players shall be decided by the FIFA disciplinary committee in accordance with the FIFA disciplinary code.
However, FIFA says that the rules also state that where an existing tournament, in this case the Pacific Games, doubles as the Olympic qualifying competition, the respective continental federation would be responsible for all organisation.
FIFA says the Pacific Games is a competition exclusively organised by the Oceania Football Confederation and therefore OFC is responsible for enforcing sanctions imposed against infringements committed in their area of jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Football says the Pacific Games Council confirmed the eligibility of their squad before the tournament, and they are challenging a decision which resulted in the national under‑23 men's team missing out on an Olympic berth.
NZ Football CEO Andy Martin confirmed the national body will be lodging a formal appeal with Oceania Football regarding the eligibility of the player.
Source: Radio New Zealand
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
