South Africa and Benin’s protests over incidents throughout final month’s World Cup qualifying video games have been rejected by FIFA on Friday, confirming that Ghana and Congo have superior to the playoff rounds.
FIFA stated each protests have been “declared unacceptable by the disciplinary committee.” South Africa and Benin each misplaced decisive matches within the ultimate spherical of group video games final month, with Ghana and Congo each incomes three factors to win their respective teams and advance to the playoffs.
The South African Football Federation challenged the conduct of Senegalese referee Maguet N’Diye and cited unfair selections, together with a first-half penalty awarded to Ghana which determined a 1–0 victory. Benin misplaced 2–0 to Congo, who made substitutions throughout 4 totally different stops within the recreation.
Current FIFA guidelines enable groups to make use of as much as 5 substitutes, however to make these modifications to a most of three stoppages, plus the halftime break.
FIFA didn’t specify the precise purpose for denying the protest, however cited sections of its disciplinary code and guidelines for the 2022 World Cup qualifying programme. Those sections embody the dismissal of all opposition “regarding the decisions of the referee with respect to facts connected with the game”.
It additionally stated that group captains ought to instantly dispute “any incident that occurs during the match” earlier than the beginning of play and “in the presence of the captain of the opposing team”.
A protest needs to be formally put in writing inside 24 hours of the sport and an administration payment of 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,100) is paid. FIFA stated South Africa and Benin might problem the disciplinary selections of their appeals committee.
Ghana and Congo are among the many 10 group winners who will compete in a five-legged playoff to be held on March 21-29. The pairs have not been drawn but.
The playoff winners will get 5 locations from Africa at subsequent yr’s World Cup in Qatar.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
