PARIS, June 28: FIFA’s Executive Committee has rejected a proposal to expand the 2006 World Cup finals to 36 teams, but to do so backtracked on its promise to give Oceania an automatic place in the tournament.

The South American confederation CONMEBOL had proposed the increase from the current 32 teams after its allocation was reduced by “half a slot” - a place in a playoff - to give Oceania an automatic finals place.

However, to placate the South Americans FIFA agreed on Saturday to return their half-place at the expense of Oceania, a decision that led to the furious Oceania delegation storming out of the meeting.

FIFA initially gave the CONMEBOL proposal a guarded welcome but, after a detailed investigation of the logistical problems of increasing the numbers, it was voted out by a majority of 23-1 - Oceania being the only dissenting voice.

However, with South America having lost a further qualifying place for the 2006 tournament in Germany after FIFA ruled last year that the defending champions, Brazil, would not get automatic qualification, FIFA officials were anxious to please them.

“We have to find a solution to make them (CONMEBOL) happy again but in this case everybody was unanimous,” UEFA President Lennart Johansson said.

Johansson said the reason for the U-turn on Oceania’s qualifying position was playing standards.

“CONMEBOL also have a standard on the pitch,” he said. “They lost the winner (Brazil) and then another half-place.

“If you make a mistake you must correct it,” he said. “It was too early to give them (Oceania) direct entry to the World Cup but it doesn’t mean we stay with this for the future.”

Australia have been the dominant force in Oceania recently, but have failed to reach the finals after losing playoffs to Argentina, Uruguay, Scotland and Iran.

Nicolas Leoz, the Paraguayan president of CONMEBOL, welcomed the decision.

“It was virtually a full majority,” he said. “There were 24 votes and only one was against.”

Colombian member Oscar Astudillo said: “South America has recovered what belonged to it and was taken away in December.

“We now have 4.5 places and that is as it should be. I am very happy we have got back what was ours.”—Reuters