Feature: Would Ghana have complained if FIFA gave them free World Cup points like Zambia?

Published on: 08 November 2012

As expected, there have been protests in the Ghana camp over FIFAs decision to rule in favour of Zambia on the Sudan vs Zambia encounter.

Ghana players are unhappy over FIFA’s decision to strip Sudan of a win over Zambia for fielding an ineligible player in a 2014 World Cup qualifier, the country’s FA chief has revealed.

The Black Stars think the decision to award the points to the Chipolopolo gives the Southern Africans the unfair advantage as they fight for one of the tickets to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

It was widely accepted by all that Sudan had breached the rules by fielding a player who was ineligible to play and the only doubt to the issue of whether or not Zambia would get the points was the question of FAZ having lodged in the complaint in time.

The expectation is that the Ghanains would have shelved the points if they were in a similar position where a player ineligible was made to play against them and it ould be seen as hypocrisy that they would be crying about the decision in the back ground.

Whether Zambia protested or not, FIFA should still have moved to punish the Sudanese for cheating.

Sudan are also furious over the award of three boardroom points to Zambia insisting FIFA or CAF did not notify them of defender Saifeldin Ali Idris suspension as required by law.

But Din Ali admitted that he warned the Sudanese FA about the red card he received at the Africa Cup of Nations.

” I told the technical staff that I can’t play in the Zambia match after I got the red card in the last AFCON match but they told me that I would play against Zambia because CAF did not notify them that I was banned,” Din Ali said.

Even Ali seemed to be more aware of the rules than his Sudanese administrators who hoped to get away with a wrong.

The fact is the Sudanese did not play the game by the rules and to ay FIFA or CAF did not notify them is no excuse.

Ghana should concentrate on how they will win all their remaining games for now and not cry over a deliberate error by the Sudanese which the hoped they would get away with.

On the back of the FIFA ruling against Sudan, African champions Zambia are now top of their qualifying group for Brazil 2014 on six points, three more than closest rivals Ghana.

Saifeldin was earlier suspended in his last competitive match prior to that game following his sent-off at the 2012 Africa Cup in a 3-0 quarterfinal loss Zambia on February.

Would Ghana and Sudan had complained to FIFA if Zambia had used an ineligible player? Is the boardroom decision to strip Sudan a fair outcome? Make your views known in the box below:

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