The Fifa corruption scandal could hit New Zealand Football in the pocket -- Auckland City Football Club stands to lose $690,000 in Club World Cup prizemoney because of the turmoil in Zurich.
The Herald understands a decision to award Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) direct qualification to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, and a minimum take-home prize of $1.4 million, was to be rubber stamped at a meeting scheduled to take place after tomorrow's Fifa congress.
But all bets are off after the governing body's spectacular implosion.
Uefa, the administrative body for football in Europe and part of Asia, has called for the congress to be postponed amid growing pressure on Fifa president Sepp Blatter's governance after Wednesday's revelations of bribery and corruption among senior Fifa officials.
OFC and Auckland City had lobbied Blatter to award the confederation direct entry to the knockout stages of the tournament after Auckland's third-place finish at last year's event.
Auckland, who have participated in a tournament qualification game for each of the past four years, will now keep a keen eye on Fifa developments as a delayed congress or a change in the Fifa presidency could change the landscape.
Auckland have received a minimum of $690,000 each time they have travelled to the Club World Cup and, as winners of this year's O-League (the annual competition for the OFC's top club sides), would double their prizemoney even if they were to lose their first game under the proposed new deal.
This money is divided among the ASB Premiership clubs and New Zealand Football, with Auckland receiving the biggest share.
Oceania's path to the 2018 World Cup was also expected to be finalised during this weekend's congress. Direct qualification to the tournament in Russia is a long shot, but a possibility.
"New Zealand Football and OFC have been working together on New Zealand's qualification route and ideally that would be through Asia," said New Zealand Football high performance director Fred de Jong.
"We've also been working with OFC on pushing the confederation's cause for direct entry into the main competition in the Fifa Club World Cup. We're hopeful that these issues will be resolved."
Auckland City chairman Ivan Vuksich said he had heard rumours a direct qualification deal was to be tabled during Fifa's congress.
"Some of our people lobbied Sepp Blatter in Morocco last year after we did so well and finished third," said Vuksich.
"There was a function afterward and he was there and a few of our people approached him and suggested that, because we had done so well, we deserved direct entry.
"He laughed it off without making too much comment but I know that OFC are keen to pursue this because it will only enhance their reputation.
"It would be very nice, and the game here needs it."
- Steven Holloway of the New Zealand Herald