West Ham United chief Karren Brady can't believe the behaviour of Soccer New Zealand towards their defender Winston Reid.

Brady revealed in her diary for The Sun: "When New Zealand heard West Ham defender Winston Reid would be unable to travel to Papeete for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Tahiti because of a back injury, their FA insisted he fly out for a fitness test all of their own.

"I suppose you might say there's no harm in trying, but a three-day journey for a medical check-up to confirm an injury seems a trifle extreme to us. That is even though the Kiwis' need for a strong defender is explained by their ranking which, to my surprise, is 92nd.

"They quote the rule book, stating if he doesn't fly the 24 hours to fail a medical, they'll invoke the five-day rule. Rules before well-being. Don't you love international football?"