New Zealand Football can confirm that following an initial audit of registered National League players, two clubs have been found to have breached the competition’s foreign player regulations in games they have competed in so far this season. 

The competition rules state that teams in the National League can field a maximum number of four foreign players and one additional foreign player who has the nationality of an Oceania Football Confederation member association. 

In the Northern League, West Coast Rangers have been found to have breached this rule by naming more than the maximum number of foreign players in the match-day squad on four occasions, against Western Springs AFC (5-1 Loss), North Shore United (2-0 Loss), Birkenhead United (4-0 Loss) and Melville United (1-0 Loss). On each occasion, more than the maximum number of eligible players took the field in the match. As a penalty for fielding ineligible players in these matches, results for games against North Shore United and Melville United will be changed to a 3-0 loss. As the existing results for the remaining fixtures are greater than a 3-0 loss they will remain unchanged.  

In the Central League, Wairarapa United have also been found to have breached this rule by naming more than the maximum number of foreign players in their match day squad for a game against Napier City Rovers. However, due to the fact that the club did not exceed the maximum number of foreign players actually taking the field, the game cannot be forfeited and changed to a 3-0 loss. Instead the club will be issued a fine for breaching regulations around failing to provide an accurate start list. 

“We are a few games into a new league structure where we have significantly upped the level of administration we are asking of our clubs” says Kevin Forde, Competitions and Events Director at New Zealand Football. 

“We would like to thank the clubs for their support to ensure the accurate registration and classification of players as we continue look to raise the standards expected to improve the game across the country.” 

New Zealand Football is continuing to review games across the league and has reminded all clubs of their obligations as part of the competition regulations.

Article added: Wednesday 21 April 2021