The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has dismissed South Africa’s protest against Ghana following their 1-0 loss in the decisive World Cup qualifier match in Cape Coast last month.
According to the Disciplinary Committee of the World footballing body, the protest by the South Africans was inadmissible, without providing any further details.
In the ruling on Friday, December 3, 2021, FIFA said “The protest lodged by South Africa has been declared inadmissible by the Disciplinary Committee as it did not meet the requirements foreseen under art. 46 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 14 of the Regulations of the Preliminary Competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022.”
However, it served notice that, “the decision is subject to appeal.”
Meanwhile, SAFA upon receiving the feedback has indicated that the association is considering other options depending on further information the Committee will provide.
“We have received the decision without details and will request the reasons (from FIFA) and consider our options,” SAFA chief executive Tebogo Motlanthe reterriated.
The ruling means Ghana will be represented among the ten country’s in the play-off which was rescheduled to take place from December 18 to January 26 2022.
The qualified countries for the playoffs are; Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia, DR Congo, Mali, Algeria, Cameroon and Morocco.
It would be recalled that South Africa logged a formal complaint to FIFA in November, seeking for a replay of their crucial World Cup qualifier game against Ghana in which they lost 1-0 after Senegalese referee Ndiaye Maguette awarded Ghana a controversial penalty.
Captain, Andre Ayew stepped forward and scored to grab the all important points for the Black Stars.
The result allowed Ghana to leapfrog South Africa to the top of their Group G table and move into the final qualifying stage slated for March 2022 from where they may proceed to the finals in Qatar same year.
