Former New Zealand football captain Ryan Nelsen has no issue with the debate over whether the 'All Whites' nickname should be dropped.
NZ Football is reconsidering the moniker for the national men's side, as it aims to become more culturally inclusive.
With the name referring to the team’s jersey colour, rather than being racially inspired, NZ football icon Wynton Rufer has labelled the move "pathetic".
The nickname emerged during New Zealand's epic qualification run for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, as well as during the infamous Springboks rugby tour that same year.
But former New Zealand, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur defender Nelsen, 43, sees the argument from the other side, and would have no issue, if the name is dropped.
"Even if it displeases a tiny minority, then that for me is enough to change it," Nelsen tells RNZ.
"Just because it's been around for [so long] doesn't mean it's right.
"It doesn't mean it's wrong, but we should be having this conversation about inclusivity. [The name] shouldn't have any negative connotations at all.
"I didn't play for the name - the All Whites - I played for New Zealand and the country.
"That's all I cared about, representing five million New Zealanders and the football community."
Nelsen was capped 49 times for New Zealand and captained the side to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - the last time the All Whites qualified for the tournament.
