FIFA fines Nigeria US$6000 for fielding an ineligible player in 2018 WC Qualifiers.
The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), has imposed a fine of US$6000 on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), for fielding an unqualified player in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria.
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In addition to the fine, FIFA also annulled the 1:1 score line in the said game between Algeria and Nigeria on November 10, 2017 and subsequently awarded a 3:0 score line instead, in favor of Algeria.
Super Eagle’s defender Abdullahi Shehu was shown yellow cards in previous matches against Swaziland and Zambia and should have consequently missed the game away to Algeria where it ended one all.
The defender played all 90 minutes in that match when he should have been sat out.
A statement on FIFA’s official website on Tuesday said, “Following the recent meeting of the Disciplinary Committee, FIFA can today confirm the latest sanctions imposed for incidents that occurred during the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup as well as in international friendlies.
“The NFF has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the match between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017.
“The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favor of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000.
“The sanction relates to the player Abdullahi Shehu failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him as a result of receiving a caution in two separate matches of the same competition,” it added.
FIFA however explained that, the sanction did not in any way affect Nigeria’s qualification to the 2018 world cup since they had already secured qualification before the said game against Algeria.
“This sanction bears no impact on the final result of the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup since Nigeria had already qualified (and Algeria eliminated) before the match took place,” it said.
The decision nevertheless means that Nigeria still tops Group B but with 13 points instead of 14 while Algeria's total at the bottom of the table is now four rather than two points.