Sudan slams FIFA decision to give Zambia boardroom points, vows to fight injustice

Published on: 10 October 2012

Sudan have slammed FIFA’s decision to strip them of a win over Zambia for fielding an ineligible player in a 2014 World Cup qualifier, vowing to fight the verdict.

The north African country has appealed against the decision insisting they will fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for justice if FIFA does not listen favourably to their concerns.

Sudan are 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.

Zambia, who moved to the top of the group thanks to the decision, did not also file in the complaint within the stipulated time but the governing body ruled in their favour.

This has sparked some sense of injustice among the Sudan who think they legal rights have been violated by FIFA who has lost similar cases in the past at CAS.

Sudan FA (SFA) says it will exhaust all legal avenues to reclaim the three points because they did not receive any official notice that defender Saifeldin Ali Idris was ineligible to play in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia in June.

"SFA confirms they did not receive verbal or written notice by FIFA or CAF preventing him (Saifeldin Ali Idris from involving the player in the mentioned game," SFA stated.

"SFA will follow all legal avenues to recover the Sudan rights in this case.

"Based on our confidence in the validity of our legal position, we have to appeal a decision to the Discipline Committee issued on the fourth of October 2012 and the recipient via DHL on the eighth of October 2012.

"Today- Tuesday 9th October 2012, we have sent to the appeals to the Disciplinary Committee of the Federation International de Football Associations (FIFA)."

Zambia were third in Group D prior to the ruling on three points, level with second placed Ghana and one less than Sudan after two matches played.

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.

Sudan featured Saifeldin in a 2-0 win over Zambia in a Group D qualifier on June 2 in Khartoum.

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.

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