The Papua New Guinea Sports Minister says whoever is responsible for failing to organise visas for the national women's football team should lose their job.
PNG were forced to withdraw from the Oceania Olympic Playoff when the squad did not receive the required visas to enter New Zealand for yesterday's return match.
The withdrawal is being analysed by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will decide on whether further steps or investigation is required.
Papua New Guinea were beaten 7-1 by New Zealand in Lae before withdrawing from the return leg. Photo: Oceania Football
Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko says the incident is not a good look, especially with the country about to host the Under 20 Women's World Cup in November.
"This will reflect badly against PNG because of one person's stuff up. As far as we're concerned it's a different group of people organising the FIFA World Cup. FIFA, I'm sure, will be scratching their heads wondering what happened. That is a total embarrassment to PNGFA and those concerned should be terminated - get rid of them - and especially when it comes at the eve of Papua New Guinea hosting one of the biggest world events in PNG in sport that we've ever had in our history of the country."
Mr Tkatchenko says the PNG Football Association needs to get its act together and work with the Sports Ministry and PNG Sports Foundation to ensure it never happens again.
He plans to meet with PNG and Oceania Football President David Chung once he is back in the country.
