By David Gold
November 9 – The first country to be eliminated from the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Myanmar, is now back in contention to qualify after FIFA annulled their tournament expulsion.
A fine of 25,000 Swiss Francs (£17,000/$28,000) still applies after crowd violence erupted at a World Cup 2014 qualifying game against Oman in July, when home fans threw rocks and other missiles onto the pitch.
Oman took Myanmar’s place in the next stage of qualifying for the 2014 tournament, being held in Brazil, and that decision remains, FIFA confirmed.
But world football’s governing body added that they can’t play any home games during the 2018 World Cup.
“The Myanmar Football Federation will now be required to play all their home matches in the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on neutral ground in another country,” FIFA said on their website.
Oman had won the first leg of the qualifying game between the two 2-0 at home, and were winning by the same score in the return when the game was interrupted by violence.
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