NZF deserves credit for battering Blatter into resignation

Suddenly New Zealand Football just got a bit of swagger.

And it’s got nothing to do with a vibrant first few days of hosting the under-20 World Cup.

No, it’s all about the politics of the game and now New Zealand can look over its shoulder at the rest of the footballing world and say: ‘‘We told you so’’.

New Zealand’s brave decision to go against the grain and join ‘‘the 73’’ who voted against Sepp Blatter in his bid to retain the presidency of Fifa has gained belated reward.

Blatter’s decision to stand down amidst sport’s biggest scandal makes New Zealand’s move now look like the vote for common sense it always appeared to be to football fans in this part of the world. There is no benefit of hindsight in any of this for New Zealand.

Chief executive Andy Martin went on the front foot from the moment he was asked about the extraordinary events unravelling before his eyes in Zurich last week.

This nonsense must change and the change must start at the top, demanded Martin and his New Zealand association.

There was no joy on the night for New Zealand as Blatter was returned in a landslide result that only heightened football’s embarrassment. But the wait didn’t take long. Blatter has sensibly fallen on his sword.

Any fears that New Zealand would suffer for its stand against Blatter now disappear down the drain with the embattled expresident.

New Zealand now deserves to be rewarded for its brave attitude.

It will be seen as an ally for the person bold enough to stand up and take the world’s biggest game by the scruff of the neck and shake out the remaining fleas.

The tough job has been done but hard work remains for the footballing outpost that is Oceania.

This is the time New Zealand needs to play smart and ensure that the next management of Fifa look favourably on the region without any hint of skulduggery swaying developments as they have in Oceania’s shadowy past.

Blatter’s resignation represents a clean sheet for the game, a chance to start afresh. New Zea- land is only a minnow in this giant game but the mouse has roared.

Martin appears to be a refreshing change to the game’s administration in New Zealand. He was prepared to bite the hand that feeds us. Even in the defeat of the Zurich vote, he was looking forward to the chance to joust with Blatter who was set to visit New Zealand for the under-20 final.

But Martin’s inevitable meeting with the next president of Fifa will be even more important now.