/ 22 June 2013

Fifa investigates CAR violence ahead of World Cup qualifier

Fifa Investigates Car Violence Ahead Of World Cup Qualifier

"No decision has yet been taken on the issue, but we are following the situation in the Central African Republic [CAR] closely and will make a decision at the appropriate time when we have all the relevant facts at our disposal," Fifa said in a statement on Saturday.

Fifa had ruled that the situation in CAR made it a risk to stage their World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana in the central African country, and the game was switched to a neutral venue in Cameroon.

The decision worked in favour of South Africa, who won the return-leg clash in Yaounde 3-0 to keep alive their slim hopes of remaining in contention for next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Bafana's prospects appeared to have ended irrevocably after their 2-1 defeat to group leaders Ethiopia in Addis Ababa the following week, which seemingly gave the host nation an unassailable five-point lead in the group with one round of matches to play.

But in a bizarre turnaround, Fifa announced they were investigating the presence of an ineligible player in the Ethiopian line-up during their 2-1 win over Botswana on June 8.

If found guilty of fielding a player with two yellow cards from previous World Cup qualifying matches – Ethiopia have since admitted the error – the standard penalty facing them would be the loss of three points and the fixture being ruled a 3-0 win for Botswana.

Although this would result in Ethiopia still heading the World Cup qualifying group by two points, a back-from-the-dead Bafana have a superior goal difference and could keep their hopes of going to Brazil alive with a home victory over Botswana, provided Ethiopia draw or lose against CAR. – Sapa