/ 7 November 2011

Burma reinstated to 2018 World Cup

Burma has been reinstated to the 2018 World Cup qualification tournament after Fifa partially accepted its appeal against disqualification for crowd violence.

However, Fifa says Burma must play all its home matches in a neutral country.

Burma had been disqualified from the next World Cup after fans forced a 2014 qualifier against Oman in July to be abandoned in the first half.

Fans threw stones and water bottles onto the field when Oman led the second-leg match 2-0.

Fifa awarded a victory by the same score and Oman advanced 4-0 on aggregate.

Fifa’s appeals committee ordered Burma to pay a fine of 25 000 Swiss francs ($27 700). — Sapa-AP