By David Gold
September 30 – Seven years before games get underway at the first ever World Cup to be held in Russia, Myanmar have become the first country eliminated from the competition after violence erupted during a Brazil 2014 Asian qualifying clash with Oman in July.
Oman had won the original game between the two sides 2-0, and it was an identical score almost half way through the second leg in Yangon on July 28 when violence erupted.
The Japanese referee Ryuji Sato abandoned the game with missiles raining down on him, Oman players and their coach Paul Le Guen.
The trouble was sparked when Sato gave the visitors a penalty, and FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee subsequently ruled that the Myanmar Football Federation had breached their disciplinary code regarding the conduct of their supporters.
“The bureau of the Organising Committee of the FIFA World Cup confirmed that the result standing at the time of the interruption of the match is final,” FIFA confirmed.
“Therefore, Oman qualified for the next round of Asia’s preliminary competition…the Myanmar Football Federation is excluded from taking part in the matches of the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.”
Myanmar has also been ordered to pay a fine of $28,000 (€20,500 / £17,500).
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