Woops posted in the wrong thread. What are the chances of this match actually being cancelled?
No chance because SA would then have to pay compensation of hundreds of thousands of dollars to NZ Football and the FFA in Australia and this would include TV rights money which no doubt would have to go to Sky TV in NZ, Fox in Australia and SA television plus any international broadcasters taking the game.
Contracts will have been signed some time ago.
Some SA clubs want to withdraw players they say are injured - the SA FA are giving them medical tests in the next 12 hours and will merely substitute them with others if their own medical staff assess them as unfit.
My reading is these players have accepted the call-up to the squad and will only be allowed to pull out if assessed as medically unfit.
Here is a more detailed report from earlier today via Aussie media re: SA player availability:
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/05/20/south-africa-dire-straits-ahead-socceroos-game
"While South Africa's coach Gordon Igesund refused to confirm that up to seven players would be unavailable for the internationals in Sydney and Auckland, Kaizer Chiefs revealed that three of its players were set to pull out of the squad.
Igesund's preferred goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, striker Bernard Parker and midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala need surgery, according to Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter, after the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) finished on earlier this month.
"All three of our players will go for surgery," Baxter said on Monday.
"Parker's knee looks like he should not be playing. We gave them painkillers in our last matches. We have spoken to Igesund and their technical team and he understands the situation.
"Look, it's the doctors who made these decisions not the coaches. We have always supported Bafana by making our players available whenever they were needed."
South Africa is set to take on the Socceroos at ANZ Stadium while New Zealand will play Igesund's team four days later in Auckland.
Reports in South Africa's media claim the other four injured players are from Orlando Pirates, which would leave a significant hole in Igesund's squad, with both clubs having finished in the top four of the PSL this season.
The seven injured players have joined Crystal Palace midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi (calf) and Rostov defender Siyanda Xulu (ankle) on the sidelines....
[South Africa coach Gordon Igesund said:]"I can't mention their names at the moment as I'm still looking for replacements," the 57-year-old former South Africa international said.
"I have about seven players reported to be injured and they will undergo medical test tomorrow.
"I have been in this situation before and survived.
"I'm hopeful I will get the right players for those who are injured."