By Mark Baber
July 2 – In a set-back to Ethiopia’s ambitions to qualify for a World Cup final tournament for the first time, FIFA has overturned Ethiopia’s original 2-1 win against Botswana and awarded a 3-0 victory to Botswana. FIFA has confirmed that the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup between Botswana and Ethiopia played on 8 June 2013.
On top of the forfeit, the EFF also received a fine of CHF 6,000, after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee found the EFF to have breached article 55 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 8 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Regulations in fielding Minyahile Teshome Beyene, when he should have been serving a one-match suspension following two cautions received in two different matches (article 17 par. 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code).
The sanctions mean that, despite Ethiopia remaining top of Group A, rivals South Africa and Botswana each now have a chance to progress to the decisive play-off round if they win their final games, if Ethiopia stumble in their final game against the Central African Republic.
The sanction is not expected to be appealed as the Ethiopian footballing authorities have frankly accepted their responsibility for the blunder. Ethiopian FA secretary-general, Ashenafi Ejigu, has already been sacked and the vice-president of the FA, Berhanu Kebede, offered his resignation, although this was rejected by the board pending further consultations.
The FA president, Sahilu Gebremariam, said: “This was a massive blunder, so we all should have resigned, but we have responsibilities ahead so we voted to stay until September.”
The offer to step down in September has been seen as particularly noble, given the record of Gebremariam and the current EFF leadership in transforming Ethiopian football for the better and bringing the country back from international suspension to the brink of World Cup qualification.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s coach Gordon Igesund said: “The decision gives us a second bite at the cherry. We have to beat Botswana and hope Ethiopia lose or draw against the Central African Republic.”
Togo and Equatorial Guinea are currently under investigation for fielding ineligible players, with Sudan and Gabon having already forfeited games in the World Cup qualifying competition for the same reason.
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