By Mark Baber
March 6 – Sudan’s qualification campaign for FIFA World Cup 2014 took a body blow when it had its win over Zambia turned into a loss after the country was found to have fielded an ineligible player.
Sudan appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which upheld FIFA’s decision to declare the Sudan-Zambia World Cup qualifying match of June 2, 2012 forfeited by Sudan 0-3 overturning Sudan’s 2-0 victory.
The ruling means Zambia go top of Group D in the second round of the African qualifiers for Brazil 2014 with 6 points, whilst Sudan are level with Lesotho on 1 point.
FIFA had found Sudan guilty of fielding an ineligible player, Eldin Ali Idris Farah, who had been red carded in Sudan’s previous competitive game, also against Zambia, in the African Cup of Nations in February 2012.
The Sudanese FA (SFA) had appealed FIFA’s decision, claiming they had not been properly informed of the player’s suspension.
However, CAS rejected Sudan’s appeal “noting that the secretariat of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had indeed informed the SFA that the player Eldin Ali Idris Farah would be suspended during the next official match of the national team.”
CAS also noted that, following the sending off of the player in the last game of the Africa Cup of Nations, the SFA couldn’t not be aware of the fact that the player in question was suspended, and, in case of doubt, it should have verified the player’s eligibility with the competent FIFA and/or CAF authorities.”
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