Kick-off Decision Within Next 24 Hours

The decision on the kick-off time for the first leg of the World Cup play-off first leg match between Australia and Uruguay should be resolved within the next 24 hours.

The decision on the kick-off time for the first leg of the World Cup play-off first leg match between Australia and Uruguay should be resolved within the next 24 hours.

FIFA has been in touch with FFA chief executive Mr John O-Neill and said that the matter was still unresolved, but a decision will made be made in the next day.

Mr O-Neill added that FIFA has said it will not disadvantage Australia in any way and complimented Australia on the way it has handled the matter.

Uruguay has requested a move back to a 5.00pm kick-off after they were unable to guarantee a charter flight straight after the game and the first available commercial flight from South America to Australia could not be reached if the game kicked off as agreed to at 9.00pm.

Australia has agreed to compromise with a 7.00pm kick-off, which does allow the Uruguayans time to catch the commercial flight from Santiago, Chile.

Meanwhile Uruguay is to send an advance party of players and officials out to Australia, so they can acclimatise in time for the second leg next Wednesday.

Suspended trio Diego Lugano, Omar Pouso and Gustavo Varela and several others that are being supposedly saved for the second leg will arrive on Friday to prepare and importantly overcome any effects of jetlag.