Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament moved to NZ

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -Next month's Oceania Olympic qualifying football tournament has been moved from Fiji to New Zealand because of an ongoing legal dispute between the Oceania Football Confederation and Fiji government.

The Olympic tournament will now be played at Taupo on New Zealand's North Island from March 16-25. The OFC said Tuesday the first phase of Oceania World Cup qualifying, due to be played in Fiji in June, will also be moved if the nation's military regime does not drop contempt of court charges against OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas.

Charges were laid against Nicholas after comments he made to New Zealand reporters, which appeared to be critical of the Fiji judicial system, were published by Fijian newspapers.