Could there be a new "illegibility' problem in NZ football with the Phoenix Academy ?
Under FIFA Article 19 "Protection of Minors" which covers players moving Internationally to Clubs or Academies:
(http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/95/83/85/regulationsstatusandtransfer_e.pdf)
International Transfers of players are only permitted if player is over 18 with 3 exceptions which are basically:
a) The players parents move to the country for reasons not linked to Football ie: family move to country before join club/academy
b) Within EU, provide education blah blah blah
c) Player lives within 50km of border of country transferring to.
So, the WPFA recruit International players who move to NZ who (likely?) do not meet the above eg:.
The Vanuatu player Ronaldo Wilkins (b1999) joined the WPFA academy "... through the relationship APFA has with Oceania Football...".
Do they also have other foreign players (Thailand) , others ? whose family may not have moved here before joining, or if at all ?
Can HIBS appeal the 3-3 draw with Scots First X1 yesterday which Ronaldo played in or will Wellington College wait to see who makes the Final before playing the "Vanuatu Card" ;-) (joking !)
Of course I may be wrong as this could be my initial fuzzy thinking.
Thoughts anyone ?