Australia edges closer to Asia after release from Oceania group<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Sydney<\/p>\n
Australia took another step on Sunday towards joining the
\nAsian Football Confederation when it received an official release
\nfrom the Oceania Football Confederation.<\/p>\n
All that remains for Australia to play their post-2006 World
\nCup qualification matches in Asia is approval from soccer's world
\ngoverning body FIFA, likely in June.<\/p>\n
The Asian Football Confederation announced last month that
\nAustralia's quest to leave Oceania and play in Asia had been
\nunanimously endorsed by its executive committee after a meeting
\nin Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Australia has sought to leave Oceania to join the AFC in the
\nhope of making World Cup qualifying easier.<\/p>\n
Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii said
\nSunday in announcing the OFC's endorsement that soccer was
\nevolving and its organizations must move with the times.<\/p>\n
\"The move of Australia to Asia is one the executive and I
\nfully support as it will further develop football in Australia
\nand at the same time provide many opportunities for the remaining
\nOFC members,\" Temarii said.<\/p>\n
\"Their departure is the catalyst we need in OFC to try even
\nharder to develop the game in this region.\"<\/p>\n
Both the OFC and the Football Federation of Australia will
\nsign a cooperation agreement next month in which the FFA will
\npledge to assist the OFC in soccer development programs.<\/p>\n
\"Although they will be part of Asia we will continue to foster
\nfriendly relations with them and have exchanges. After all they
\nare still family,\" Temarii said.<\/p>\n
The matter will now be considered by FIFA but arrangements
\nwill be unchanged for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.<\/p>\n
Australia has to beat the Solomon Islands home and away and
\nthen a yet-to-be determined fifth-placed team from South America
\nto reach the 2006 finals.<\/p>\n
By joining Asia, Australia will be fighting 44 other countries
\nfor a maximum of five World Cup spots for the next 2010
\nqualifying campaign.<\/p>\n
The Socceroos could play up to 16 matches while qualifying
\nthrough Asia if Australia are successful in their bid to join the<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-edges-closer-to-asia-after-release-from-oceania-group-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}