New Zealand withdraws from Tehran fixture

AFC - Iran's clash with New Zealand for the AFC/OFC Challenge Cup 2003 is up in the air following New Zealand Soccer's decision not to travel to Tehran due to safety concerns.

The teams were due to meet over two legs in the biannual challenge match between the champions of Asia and Oceania, in Auckland on March 28 and Tehran on April 4.

However, with the threat of war looming in the Middle East, New Zealand Soccer have informed the IR Iran Football Federation and the AFC that they have taken the decision not to send a team to Iran to play the 2002 Asian Games champions until the situation in the region becomes clearer.

The decision on whether to postpone the fixture or to play it at an alternate venue has yet to be made.