ZURICH - FIFA have confirmed that Saturday's Oceanian Zone World Cup qualifier between New Zealand and Fiji has been cancelled due to an ongoing visa dispute involving Fijian goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau.
The Bureau of the Organising Committee for the World Cup in South Africa took the decision as a result of the New Zealand government's refusal to grant entry to Tamanisau.
The Bureau claims the decision will prevent Fiji from fielding a full-strength line-up in Auckland, adding that it believes the goalkeeper has the right to play in the match.
A statement released by FIFA on Friday explained that the decision to cancel the fixture was taken "in order to preserve this sporting principle as well as the competitive integrity of the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition."
FIFA have confirmed that the scheduled second leg will go ahead next Wednesday in Lautoka as planned.
The Bureau will meet before the end of the month to decide when and where the rearranged fixture will take place.
