FIFA unable to shake off Qatar controversy
Reuters - Monday 22 September 2008, 08:24
BANGKOK - Football's world governing body
FIFA has found itself tangled in a legal mess after the
authority absolved Qatar of any blame for fielding an
ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier.
FIFA's apparent flouting of its own rules has sparked cries
of condemnation after a naturalised Brazilian named Emerson,
who had already represented his birth country at youth level,
played for the Gulf state in their 2-0 win over Iraq in March.
FIFA's rules state that anyone who has played for one
country cannot represent another.
Despite the breach, Qatar progressed to the final round of
Asian qualifying at Iraq's expense, denying the surprise Asian
champions a chance to reach their first World Cup in 24 years.
"The result of that match should be nullified," Iraqi
soccer president Hussein Saeed told Reuters recently.
"It is Iraq that should be awarded victory."
The issue is now with the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) and Iraq's lawyers believe they have a strong case.
Article 55 FDC of FIFA's competition rules states that any
team "found guilty of fielding an ineligible player shall
forfeit the match in question" and "victory and the resultant 3
points will be awarded to the opposing team".
Those three points would have put Iraq, not Qatar, in the
next round.
QATAR CLEARED
Emerson, who was arrested in 2006 by Brazilian police for
falsifying his age in his passport, has since been banned by
FIFA but the Qatari federation was cleared of any wrongdoing.
FIFA said the tiny Gulf state was not to blame because it
was unaware the globe-trotting Emerson, who has played on four
continents, had represented Brazil under his former name,
Marcio Passos De Albuquerque.
Iraq twice protested the decision but FIFA rejected their
appeal, citing late submission of documents and fees.
"It is hard to imagine things going Iraq's way," John
Duerden, Asia editor of soccer website goal.com, told Reuters.
"The fair thing to do is to give Iraq a 3-0 win for the
match in question, as FIFA's rules stipulate... It would, of
course, be a surprise if this actually happened."
FIFA said it was not willing to comment on the CAS case
until the verdict had been announced.
Senior Qatari federation officials and members of its legal
team did not return calls or respond to text messages when
contacted by Reuters.
However, recent comments by Sheikh Hamad Khalifa al-Thani,
the country's soccer president, suggest Qatar is confident
FIFA's decision will not be overturned.
'NO MISTAKE'
"The whole issue is not of our interest because we didn't
make any mistake," he said.
"If there is any side who made a mistake then they should
be punished, but that's not us."
Sources close to the case say FIFA has argued that the
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) should have done a thorough
background check of Emerson, whose questionable record was
reported to FIFA by Japan in 2005 when he played for Urawa
Reds.
FIFA's disciplinary committee referred to Swiss law in
overriding article 55 FDC, concluding that it was right not to
sanction Qatar, who had been given false information and should
therefore be absolved of blame.
"The confidence of the Qatari Football Association has to
be protected," FIFA stated in an extract from a case document
seen by Reuters. "Article 55 FDC cannot be applied."
The handling of the case has incensed many Iraqis and
prompted hundreds of web postings accusing oil-rich Qatar of
abusing the power it has in Asian soccer, in particular, the
close ties shared by the AFC's Qatari president Mohamed Bin
Hammam and his FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter.
By contrast, the issue is barely mentioned in Qatar and the
media has steered clear of the story.
Iraq's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira has given up hope of
going to the 2010 finals and few believe unfashionable Iraq
will win the case, for which a verdict is expected within two
weeks.
"This certainly does no favours for FIFA's reputation,"
added Duerden, an Asian soccer writer.
"When Iraqi players take the pitch in the Confederations
Cup next year along with FIFA's fair play flags, they won't be
the only ones shaking their heads."
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