August 11 – A battle is set to be launched over the allocation of World Cup spots between Asia and Oceania, Japan Football Association President Junji Ogura has predicted.
He fears that Oceania will demand a guaranteed spot for the next finals in Brazil in four years time, which would mean that Asia would be able to have no more than four representatives.
Under the current system, the winners of the Oceania qualifying section meet an Asian country in a playoff for the finals.
“I’m worried,” said Ogura.
“We must think about how to fight against it.”
Oceania Football Confederation President Reynald Temarii is “certain” to demand a full berth for his region when FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee meets in December, Ogura said.
Both Ogura and Temarii are members of the Executive Committee.
Temarii is expected to present as evidence the fact that New Zealand performed so outstandingly during the World Cup in South Africa – ending the tournament as the only unbeaten side, including earning a 1-1 draw with defending champions Italy – that Oceania have done enough to earn a permanent place in the finals.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam, though, has claimed that Asia’s four-and-a-half berths were “fully protected.”
When asked in Singapore, where he is attending the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games alongside FIFA President Sepp Blatter, whether Asian spots would be reviewed, he told reporters: “Absolutely not.”
He said: “There is no question of any reduction in our quota.
“This is the first time I am hearing about this.
“And there has been absolutely no discussion [in the FIFA Executive Committee] on this.
“We are happy with 4.5 spots.”