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Dunne saddened by NZ Soccer's plight
Monday, 15 October 2007
Dunne saddened by NZ Soccer's plight
UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne is saddened that New Zealand soccer is the principal victim of the New Zealand government's refusal to grant a visa to the goalkeeper in the Fijian national soccer team.
"While I fully support New Zealand's right to determine who can enter the country, in this case, it appears the punishment is all on New Zealand, not the autocratic despots of Fiji.
"The man involved is, after all, merely engaged to a woman whose father happens to be a military policeman. The connection to the military dictatorship is very tenuous.
"As a result, New Zealand soccer is seriously disadvantaged on the field and faces financial losses of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
"This is a very heavy penalty merely to let the illegal Fijian government know we disapprove of them - something they were already aware of.
"This may be a case where the New Zealand Government should back its principles with cold, hard cash," said Mr Dunne.
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