NOUMEA: The New Caledonia division d'honneur final rounds have taken a turn for the better for third placed AS Poum after they extended their slim lead over fourth placed JS Baco to a five point gap.

This came about after Poum beat ACB Poya 3-2 while JS Baco was beaten by second place Mont Dore 1-0 in round 17 matches last weekend.

JS Baco still holds a lifeline as it has a match in hand but to overtake AS Poum they must win their remaining games and hope Poum drops one on the way. AS Magenta survived a torrid encounter to maintain their winning streak and lead at the top of the ladder with a 3-2 win over USC.

Mont-Dore remains in second with 55 points, five astray from Magenta and four clear of Poum. In other results, AS Auteuil thrashed Gaitcha FCN 6-3 while the match between ASLN Kouaoua and Olympique was postponed. ASLN Kouaoua went down to AS Auteuil 1-3 in a catch up match played last weekend.

Round 17 results:

AS Auteuil - Gaïtcha FCN 6 - 3

AS Magenta - USC 3 - 2

JS Baco - AS Mont-Dore 0 - 1

AS Poum - ACB Poya 3 - 2

ASLN Kouaoua - Olympique postponed

Catch up match:

ASLN Kouaoua - Auteuil 1 - 3

Points Ladder (after round 17)
Teams	Pts	P	W	D	L	F	A	diff
1. AS Magenta	60	17	14	1	2	60	23	+37
2. Mont-Dore	55	17	12	2	3	30	12	+18
3. AS Poum	51	16	11	2	3	38	24	+14
4. JS Baco	46	15	10	1	4	35	23	+12
5. Gaitcha FCN	40	16	7	3	6	28	32	-4
6. AS Auteuil	34	16	5	3	8	35	41	-6
7. USC	30	17	3	4	10	24	32	-8
8. Kouaoua	30	16	4	2	10	23	46	-23
9. ACB Poya	29	16	4	1	11	30	34	-4
10. Olympique	20	16	1	1	14	20	56	-36

FIFA, London - At its 118th Annual General Meeting in London today (28 February 2004), the International Football Association Board (IFAB), chaired by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, approved a number of amendments to the Laws of the Game.

Key decisions reached included the following:

- Law 1 - The Field of Play: If permitted under the applicable competition rules, matches may be played on a natural turf or artificial turf surface. In the case of artificial turf, the surface must meet the requisite quality standards (i.e. the FIFA Quality Concept for Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard).

- Law 3 - The Number of Players: No more than six substitutions per team shall be permitted in friendly matches.

- Law 10 - Method of Scoring: With regard to the method for determining the winner of a match, the IFAB ruled in favour of extra-time, consisting of two periods of no more than 15 minutes each, followed by kicks from the penalty mark. As a result, matches will no longer be decided by "golden goal" or "silver goal".

- Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct: Any player removing his jersey after scoring a goal shall be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

Furthermore, Law 5 will now dictate that if the rules of a competition endorse the use of a fourth official, his function and responsibilities shall correspond with those laid down by the IFAB.

All of the changes to the Laws of the Game shall come into force worldwide on 1 July 2004.

The IFAB chose to reject proposals to increase the maximum length of the half-time interval from 15 to 20 minutes and to advance free kicks by 9.15 metres if a player from the penalised team fails to retreat the required distance or prevents the free kick from being taken.

The 118th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board forms part of a weekend of FIFA Centennial celebrations in London to pay tribute to the British associations' key contribution to the game of football. To mark the occasion, the members of the FIFA Executive Committee were invited to attend the IFAB meeting for the very first time.

The International F.A. Board is constituted of The Football Association (England), The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of Wales, The Irish Football Association and FIFA, each of which is represented by four delegates. FIFA have four votes on behalf of all of its affiliated associations. The other IFAB member associations have one vote each. For a proposal to be passed, it must receive the support of at least three-quarters of those present and entitled to vote.

Artificial turf now covered in `Laws of the Game'

FIFA, London -At its last meeting on 28 February 2004, the International Football Association Board, the custodian of the Laws of the Game in football, decided that a reference to `Field Surface', including artificial turf, would be added to the Laws of the Game.

This historic decision allows international club competition fixtures and competitive matches between representative teams of Associations affiliated to FIFA to be played on artificial surfaces that meet recognised FIFA standards and according to the regulations of the competition. This is of great importance, especially for nations, where extremely hot, cold or wet climatic conditions can easily damage grass pitches.

"Integrating the artificial turf surface into the Laws of the Game is another milestone in the history of football. Millions of players around the world will benefit from this decision, as it will allow them to play their favourite sport on a more regular basis and, above all, in difficult climatic conditions that would make it impossible on natural turf pitches," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

Artificial turf was first used in international competition at the FIFA U-17 World Championship Finland 2003. Ten matches including the Final were played on a "FIFA Recommended" artificial surface. Widespread approval from the teams and positive findings in terms of injuries proved that artificial turf is the best alternative to grass. The latest generation of artificial turf, especially designated for football, replicates most of the qualities of grass, and is fully acceptable at all levels of the game.

As the game's worldwide governing body, FIFA strives to support any move to improve football equipment and will draw up universal guidelines for the use of artificial turf following the IFAB mandate. Based on players' feedback, medical research and information from the industry, the FIFA Quality Concept will be further developed by adapting the test criteria to introduce a second, more stringent standard on 1 July 2004.

The creation of a new, top-of-the-range FIFA standard will further improve playability and safety. This benchmark will provide the world of football with the best artificial turf surfaces for professional football. Besides the new standard, the existing "FIFA Recommended" grading will remain part of the FIFA Quality Concept. The test requirements for the "FIFA Recommended" standard, to which there will now also be a reference in the Laws of the Game, ensure the suitability of a surface for international club competition games and competitive matches between representative teams of Associations affiliated to FIFA. As an alternative, the "International Artificial Turf Standard" reference, which is not subject to a license fee, will also be acceptable.

The FIFA Quality Concept for artificial turf was introduced in 2001 in order to ensure the highest, standardised quality of artificial turf and to protect the safety of players. The FIFA Quality Concept is a rigorous testing programme for artificial surfaces, comprising a series of laboratory and field tests, upon completion of which manufacturers are able to enter into a licensing agreement for the use of the prestigious "FIFA Recommended" mark for artificial turf pitches. Today, 15 artificial turf manufacturers are part of the FIFA Quality Concept licensing programme and over 75 "FIFA Recommended" surfaces have been installed worldwide.

For further information please refer to the FIFA website at:

http://www.fifa.com/en/development/quality/index.html

FIFA, London: Chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee unanimously ratified the format for the 2005 Club World Championship at its meeting in London today - Sunday, 29 February - following the recommendation made by the relevant organising committee in Zurich on 19 February 2004.

This competition will therefore be held with the six winners from the continental club competitions playing a total of seven matches over a period of eight days. The continental champions from Europe and South America will not take part in the action until the semi-finals and will thus play two matches at the most.

The basic competition format will be as follows:

Day 1

Match 1 Continental champion A - Continental champion B

Match 2 Continental champion C - Continental champion D

Day 2 Rest Day

Day 3 Rest Day

Day 4 Rest Day

Day 5

Match 3 Winner match 1 - Europe or South America continental champion (semi-final 1)

Match 4 Winner match 2 - Europe or South America continental champion (semi-final 2)

Day 6 Rest Day

Day 7

Match 5 Loser match 1 - Loser match 2 (= play-off for 5th place)

Match 6 Loser match 3 - Loser match 4 (= play-off for 3rd place)

Day 8

Match 7 Winner match 3 - Winner match 4 (= final)

Other details such as the time and place have yet to be decided and will be subject to further discussion.

The Executive Committee also ratified the Emergency Committee's decision on 9 January 2004 to suspend the association of Guatemala. However, at the same time, it temporarily lifted the suspension and will revert to the matter at its next meeting in Paris on 17 May. In this connection, it was also decided that FIFA and CONCACAF should recognise only José Mauricio Caballeros, the President of Fedefut, as the person responsible for the association's international affairs. The sphere of responsibility will include the Guatemala national team's participation in international competitions, particularly the FIFA World Cup^TM, the participation of Guatemalan club teams in CONCACAF's club competitions, managing financial aid from FIFA, issuing international transfer certificates etc. The Executive Committee also resolved to appoint three members who will oversee continuity in the management of Guatemala's national football affairs alongside the General Secretary of Fedefut elected in September 2003.

Furthermore, the executive body:

- Approved with satisfaction the positive financial balance of a surplus of CHF 141 mio. for 2003.

- Consented to sign the agreement between FIFA and WADA (World Antidoping Agency) at the Congress in Paris on 20/21 May, provided the amendments negotiated between the two Presidents on 28 January 2004 (individual case management and other points) are applied.

- Decided that if Gibraltar officially applied for membership, it could not be admitted as a member according to the FIFA Statutes.

- Ratified the Emergency Committee's decision to bring forward the dates for the FIFA Futsal World Championship in Chinese Taipei to 22 November - 12 December 2004.

- Confirmed that the official opening of the 2006 FIFA World Cup^TM would be held immediately before the opening game in Munich Stadium on 9 June. The 2006 FIFA Ordinary Congress would also be staged in Munich before the tournament.

The Executive Committee also noted the status of the commercial activities of Marketing & TV AG, details of the programme for FIFA's Centennial festivities as well as the programme fixed for 14 and 15 May when the foundation stone for the new headquarters "The Home of FIFA" will be laid in Zurich and the executive will decide on the host for the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM.

Furthermore, the members were briefed on the status quo of preparations for the Olympic Football Tournaments in Athens (11-29 August), the U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand (10-27 November) and the Futsal World Championship later this year.

Before the meeting, the Executive Committee observed a minute's silence in honour of former UEFA President and FIFA honorary member Jacques Georges, who died last week, as well as for other recently deceased football personalities.

ASA: Following completion today of the 2003/04 NSL Premiership season last weekend, the top 6 teams that will compete in the 2003/04 NSL Championship series are as follows; 1. Perth Glory (Premiers), 2. Parramatta Power, 3. Adelaide United, 4. Marconi Stallions, 5. South Melbourne, 6. Brisbane Strikers.

The draw for week 1 and 2 of the 2003/04 Championship Series is as follows:

Week 1

Elimination Final (1st leg)

Adelaide United v Brisbane Strikers

Sunday 7 March

Hindmarsh Stadium - 7pm CST

Elimination Final (1st leg)

Marconi Stallions v South Melbourne

Sunday 7 March

Marconi Stadium - 3.45pm EST

Week 2 draw

Major Semi Final (1st leg)

Parramatta Power v Perth Glory

Sunday 14 March

Parramatta Stadium - 3.45pm EST

Elimination Final (2nd leg)

Brisbane Strikers v Adelaide United

Saturday 13 March

Perry Park - 7pm Qld time

Elimination Final (2nd leg)

South Melbourne v Marconi Stallions

Sunday 14 March

Bob Jane Stadium - 7pm EST

NSL Round 26 report

FINALS TEAM DO IT TOUGH IN LAST ROUND

ASA: Any team entering a finals series wants to go into those games in the best frame of mind and with confidence and form on your side. However the final round was anything but for the three finals teams that took part in matches today, with two losing and the other playing out a 0-0 draw.

Next week's combatants Adelaide United and Brisbane Strikers (see separate report), although not at full strength, both lost to lowly opposition in Northern Spirit and the Football Kingz, while South Melbourne's scoring woes continued in its match with Sydney Olympic.

At Pittwater Park in Sydney's north, Spirit's terrific end of season run continued and provided a fitting farewell for the all-time NSL appearance record holder Alex Tobin and Spirit stalwart Paul Henderson, who both received standing ovation's from the small but appreciative crowd when substituted late in the game.

For Tobin, plagued by injury all season, it was only fitting he went out a winner and how ironic it was against a team from his hometown of Adelaide that he should do it against.

Only Tobin knows if he will try and get a club in the proposed new revamped National competition starting later this year, but age and injuries must surely be catching up on him. If he doesn't play one hopes he stays involved in the game in some capacity, as he has always been a positive influence wherever he has been both on and off the field and he has been an inspiration for many of the young players coming through the NSL today.

One such youngster provided the goals for Spirit in its win, Adam Kwasnik's goal either side of the break, cancelling out Aurelio Vidmar's first half injury time screamer.

Kwasnik (pictured above) who spent most of his time this season on the bench, proved a handful for the Adelaide defence throughout and could quite easily have a hat-trick next to his name.

He opened the scoring in the 27th minute when he stabbed home a cross from the left and it looked as though it would be enough at the break.

However Vidmar, a former long-time teammate of Tobin's at Adelaide City and for the Socceroos, had other ideas and his sweetly hit free kick from outside the box, went straight through the hands of Henderson for a goal and it was 1-1 at the break.

Kwasnik though sealed Spirit's third win on the trot with a looping header over the advancing Bajic in the 69th minute.

Both sides, despite the very windy conditions, had opportunities to add to the scoreline, but neither side was able to and with Adelaide already assured of third spot, coach John Kosmina with eye towards next week, took several of his key players off to make sure they were fit and available for next week.

The win saw Spirit finish in 7th position on the table just two points behind sixth place Brisbane.

Meanwhile Micky Brock reports that a howling first-half wind at OKI Jubilee Oval didn't help matters but it certainly didn't prove a factor in the amount of missed chances by both sides in the last ever NSL meeting between traditional rivals - Olympic and South Melbourne.

Olympic had by far the better opportunities and should have been ahead before the 12th minute fiasco that almost produced an opening goal.

Hiroyuki Ishida, lethal down the left, sent over a long cross that Zenon Caravella pulled back for Predrag Bojic. His poor effort came back off a defender and fell for Troy Halpin who, showing terrific vision, attempted to chip the keeper but with the ball, for once, holding up in the wind it was an easy take for Eugene Galekovic between the sticks for South.

A minute later and Olympic once again should have taken the lead. Caravella this time sent his shot, again from an Ishida cross on the left, against the legs of Galekovic and with the ball bouncing fortuitously back to him he miss-hit another attempt whilst on the ground and the lead went begging.

Iain Fyfe was next to benefit from another Ishida cross, as the Japanese import cut South apart down the left wing channel in the opening 40-minutes. Fyfe though saw his header go high and wide before the visitors had their first worthwhile attempt at goal themselves when Vince Lia broke through the middle from a Kristian Sarkies pass only to see his well placed shot go agonizingly inches wide of Brett Hughes right-hand upright.

From then on it was more a catalogue of squandered chances with shots ballooning over the bar or being hit straight at either custodian.

NSL Round 26 results

Perth 2 Marconi 2

Kingz 4 Brisbane 3

Spirit 2 Adelaide 1

Olympic 0 Sth Melb 0

Knights 0 Sydney 0

Wollongong 3 Newcastle 0

Parramatta Bye

NSL 2003-2004 Round: 26  
Team            	GP W  D L  GF GA Pts 
1 Perth Glory 		24 18 3 3  56 22 57 
2 Parramatta Power 	24 16 3 5  58 30 51 
3 Adelaide United 	24 11 7 6  28 25 40 
4 Marconi Stallions 	24 10 8 6  29 25 38 
5 South Melbourne 	24 11 4 9  39 21 37 
6 Brisbane Strikers 	24  9 5 10 28 33 32 
7 Northern Spirit 	24  9 3 12 31 33 30 
8 Sydney Olympic 	24  7 8 9  26 31 29 
9 Wollongong Wolves 	24  8 5 11 34 41 29 
10 Sydney United 	24  7 8 9  18 25 29 
11 Newcastle United 	24  6 6 12 18 33 24 
12 Melbourne Knights 	24  6 5 13 21 41 23 
13 Football Kingz 	24  4 3 17 25 51 15

Auckland, 27 February 2004: The Oceania Football Confederation would like to announce that it has selected Fiji to represent Oceania at the 2004 Milk Cup tournament in Northern Ireland from 18-24 July.

The Milk Cup is one of the premier youth soccer tournaments in the Northern Hemisphere and has helped launch the careers of such distinguished international stars like England's David Beckham.

The decision was made by the OFC executive committee after receiving expressions of interest from three member national associations.

Milk Cup organisers have since confirmed the entry of the Fiji Football Association for a national under fifteen squad to take part in the junior section of the tournament.

As part of its ongoing commitment to youth development, the OFC is providing financial assistance to contribute towards the team's airfares.

Last year, Samoa represented the OFC at the Milk Cup in the Junior (U-15) section and returned with the tournament's fair play trophy. A youth team from Otago, New Zealand, also took part in the premier section (U-17) taking on Manchester United in one memorable encounter.

According to acting OFC president, Tautulu Roebeck, he is delighted that Oceania will once again be involved in this prestigious tournament.

"Youth development is arguably one of the major priorities for our confederation and we will continue to embrace this kind of opportunity to expose our youth to a higher level of football," said Roebeck.

"It will be a good learning experience for the young Fijians but I am sure they will benefit from this and do Oceania proud. I wish them well on their preparations leading up to the tournament."

NOUMEA: There is as much interest surrounding the neck and neck race for the third position between AS Poum and JS Baco as there is for New Caledonia division d`honneur national league leaders AS Magenta and Mont Dore. This is because Magenta and Mont Dore are safely into the playoffs which start in March.

The third spot is a two-horse race between current occupant AS Poum and JS Baco and the margin between the two rivals got even slimmer after round 16 matches last weekend. Both teams now have the same points differential after Poum's magnificent 2-0 upset of Mont-Dore and JS Baco's 4-2 victory over Olympique. Poum still leads Baco by 2 points; however, Baco has a match in hand and could well pull the rug from under Poum in the climactic round.

The top three teams in the division d'honneur will playoff for the championship with the winner of the territorial league finals in a round robin series.

Round 16 results

Gaïtcha FCN- AS Magenta 2 - 4

Olympique - JS Baco 2 - 4

USC - ASLN Kouaoua 1 - 2

Mont-Dore - Poum 0 - 2

ACB Poya - Auteuil 2 - 2

Points Ladder (after rd 16)
Teams	Pts		P	W	D	L	F	A	diff
1. AS Magenta	56		16	13	1	2	57	21	+36
2. Mont-Dore	51		16	11	2	3	29	12	+17
3. AS Poum	47		15	10	2	3	35	22	+13
4. JS Baco	45		14	10	1	3	35	22	+13
5. Gaitcha FCN	39		15	  7	3	5	25	26	   -1
6. USC	29		16	  3	4	9	22	29	   -7
7. Kouaoua	29		15	  4	2	9	22	43	 -21
8. ACB Poya	28		15	  4	1         10	28	31	   -3
9. AS Auteuil	26		14	  3	3	8	26	37	 -11
10. Olympique	20		16	  1	1         14	20	56	 -36

HONIARA: The Solomon Islands is deep into its preparations for the upcoming OFC Nations Cup/World Cup Qualifiers which it is hosting from 10-19 May 2004. A 27-strong national training squad was named on 19 February after two weeks of fierce trials were held and a foreign coach is also set to be announced to lead the Solomons.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation has made it clear it will do its best to ensure the best preparation for its team in a tough group which also includes Tahiti and New Caledonia, the french speaking giants of Oceania.

After a string of below par performances at the South Pacific Games and the Olympic qualifiers, local Solomons soccer fans will be demanding a top performance from their senior team playing at home in an OFC tournament for the first time in over a decade.

For Solomon Islands football it will be a much anticipated event and with stars such as Henry Fa'arodo, Batram Suri, Commins Menapi, Dick Ngota and Alick Maemae at their disposal, there will be no shortage of motivation for the Solomon Islanders to rise to the occasion in front of their home fans.

ASA RELEASE: London, UK - Australia's national football team will be heading to London for their next international friendly match. The Socceroos have confirmed that they will be kicking off against their arch sporting rivals, South Africa, at Loftus Road Stadium, London at 8.00pm on Tuesday 30 March.

Following the Socceroos' impressive 1-1 draw against Venezuela last week (Wednesday 18 February), Lucas Neill, Socceroos and Blackburn Rovers defender, was looking ahead to the next international match.

"After the last game against Venezuela, the lads can't wait to get together again and perform on the park in England - especially since we are two wins from two games in London for the last 12 months. We are all determined to make the World Cup in Germany in 2006 and all our games are important, and South Africa is sure to give our boys a true test. We are looking forward to the match and are hoping that we can get a full house at Loftus Road," said Lucas Neill.

Loftus Road Stadium, home to Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) in West London, will play host to this game and tickets for the match go on sale 9:30am, London time on Tuesday 24 February on QPR's ticket line, 0870 112 1967*, or through the website, www.soccerooslondon.com , with prices ranging from £12 to £28. Hospitality packages will also be available for those who want to watch in style. *Note dedicated Green 'N Gold army supporters section for ticket sales by phone only (below).

The match is likely to draw a capacity crowd particularly following the Socceroos' match against England in February 2003 where the Australia ticket allocation was sold out within one hour of being released on sale.

Frank Farina, Australian national coach, is also looking forward to the challenge of the South African team, "The Socceroos are excited about playing in London against our sporting arch rivals, the South Africans. And to be going head to head at such a great football stadium makes the contest with the Bafana Bafana much more of an epic encounter. I really urge all Aussies and South Africans in London to get down to the game and show that our sporting rivalry really means something to both sets of fans, given that our Socceroos truly want to build our home London base of fans."

QPR Chief Executive David Davies has welcomed this major international fixture to Loftus Road Stadium and is confident that the West London venue will be the ideal setting, "Given the large Australian community in the west London area, I'm sure that Loftus Road will be packed out for this fixture. The stadium generates a fantastic atmosphere when full and hopefully this will be the beginning of a long and successful relationship between Australian Soccer and Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

PORT VILA: The Vanuatu Football Federation announced earlier this month that two of their star senior national reps had secured contracts to play for the Mitchelton Soccer Club in Brisbane, Queensland in Australia.

Strikers Richard Iwai and Etienne Mermer were announced as the lucky recipients. Iwai was a star back in the 2000 OFC Nations Cup, named the player of the tournament and featuring highly in the OFC Player of the Year voting. Mermer is a national team stalwart and played key roles at the South Pacific Games last year and also the 2002 OFC Nations Cup.

Since their departure two weeks ago, they have made an immediate impact at the club and have featured prominently both in the goalscoring department and improving the play of those around them.

The VFF last year secured a temporary contract for another senior national rep, Seimata Chilia, who played a season with the Fawkner Blues in the Victorian State Federation premier league.

Last year also, the Southampton Club invited Vanuatu's promising youngster Jean Emmanuel Victor Maleb for a trial. However his age (17) and nationality made it difficult for him to gain a transfer. But as he continues to astound football lovers - most recently as the top individual goalscorer (7) at the 2004 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifiers - more offers are bound to come.

The VFF talent pool is growing and overseas exposure is seen as the key to rounding out the development of the elite players. That lack of experience at playing top level football on a consistent basis has perhaps cost them in crucial internationals in the past but is a reality that all island teams face.

PAPEETE: While the Federal Championship playoffs loom next week, the Tahiti Cup (formerly Polynesian Cup) reached its semi-finals stage last weekend.

Tefana cruised to a surprisingly easy 3-0 win over the season upstarts Tamarii Faa'a while national league champion Pirae ended Dragon's fairytale run with an emphatic 5-1 drubbing.

The stage is now set tomorrow (Friday) for the Cup final between Tefana and Pirae. Manu Ura won the Tahiti Cup last year and went on to represent Tahiti in the French Cup qualifying series. This year's winner will represent Tahiti in the 2004 French Cup qualifiers.

The Tahiti Federal Championship top four playoffs and promotion-relegation series begins 3 March. Pirae, Manu Ura, Tefana and Tamarii Faa'a have booked their berths in the top four while Venus, Dragon, PTT and Arue will try and survive the cut and retain their spots in the 2004-05 Federal Championship.