The New Zealand football has been expelled hours before the final of the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament as it was found to have fielded an ineligible player in the semi-finals.
The Oceania Football Confederation disciplinary committee on Saturday decided that South Africa-born defender Deklan Wynne was not eligible to play after Vanuatu protested following their 0-2 semi-final loss, reported Xinhuaon Sunday.
As a result, Vanuatu were awarded the victory and went on to the final where they face Fiji on Sunday.
The winner of the final will represent Oceania at next year's Rio de Janiero Olympics.
New Zealand represented the Oceania confederation at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics after Australia left the region to join the Asian confederation.
