New Zealand Soccer Administrator Charlie Dempsey Dies At 86

Charlie Dempsey - New Zealand Soccer administrator, who gained world wide notoriety when he ensured Germany won the right to host the 2006 World Cup, died in Auckland, Tuesday. He was 86.

In 2000 Dempsey, decided not to cast his vote at a FIFA congress, because he didn't want to make enemies. He had gone against Oceania Football Confederation wishes to bid for South Africa for 2006 World Cup.

Charlie Dempsey was elected president of the OFC in 1992, and onto the FIFA executive in 1996. He was head of the New Zealand Football Association (now Soccer New Zealand) when New Zealand appeared for the first time in the World Cup finals in 1982 in Spain.