New Zealand Cry Foul Over FIFA Handing 'Unfair' Extra-Time Advantage To Bahrain

New Zealand Herald chief football writer Terry Maddaford explains to Goal.com how the regulations regarding the second leg of New Zealand's 2010 World Cup play-off against Bahrain in Wellington on Saturday favour the visitors. 

The first leg ended goalless last month in the West Asian state and the hosts of the return match are worried that the outcome may be the same this weekend.

“All Whites coach Ricki Herbert will not want the return leg of the Asia/Oceania World Cup play-off to be locked 0-0 after 90 minutes,” Maddaford said.  

“That is the only scoreline that would send the tie into extra time and hand what many see as an unfair advantage to Bahrain.

“Seeking clarification from FIFA, New Zealand Football has learned that any goals scored by the visitors in the 30 minutes of extra time will count double leaving the All Whites needing to score twice to emerge victorious.

“It hardly seems fair given that home advantage for the first leg is not a call made by either country - rather FIFA makes a draw and calls the shots.

“In reality it means the team playing the second leg at home has just 90 minutes to score double-counting away goals in the first leg whereas the visiting team has the potential of 120 minutes to claim what could be a decisive advantage. 

“It is certainly not a level playing field but an incentive for Herbert and his team to wrap it up in regulation time.

“On one front, FIFA has come to the party allowing the national association to install a second lot of 500 extra seats at Westpac Stadium to take the capacity to 36,000. The first lot of 500 added seats sold out in one minute, on Thursday it took six.” 

Terry Maddaford