Protests by South Africa and Benin dismissed by FIFA

Protests by South Africa and Benin concerning incidents throughout final month’s World Cup qualifying video games had been dismissed by FIFA on Friday, confirming that Ghana and Congo have superior to the playoff spherical.
Both protests had been ”declared inadmissible by the disciplinary committee,” FIFA mentioned. South Africa and Benin each misplaced decisive matches within the closing spherical of group video games final month, with Ghana and Congo each incomes three factors to win their respective teams and advance to the playoffs.
The South African soccer federation challenged the conduct of Senegalese referee Maguette N’Diaye and cited unfair choices, together with a first-half penalty awarded to Ghana that determined the 1-0 victory. Benin misplaced 2-0 to Congo, which made substitutions throughout 4 completely different stoppages in play.
Current FIFA guidelines enable groups to make use of 5 substitutes however to make these modifications in a most of three stoppages, plus the halftime break.

FIFA didn’t give the precise motive for denying the protests however cited sections of its disciplinary code and rules for the 2022 World Cup qualifying program. Those sections embrace rejecting all protests “about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play.”
It additionally mentioned group captains should instantly dispute “any incidents that occur during the course of a match” each earlier than play resumes and “in the presence of the captain of the opposing team.”
Protests additionally need to be made formally in writing inside 24 hours of the sport and with an administration charge of 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,100) paid. FIFA mentioned South Africa and Benin can problem the disciplinary rulings at its enchantment committee.
Ghana and Congo are among the many 10 group winners that may participate in 5 two-leg playoffs scheduled for March 21-29. The pairings haven’t but been drawn.
The playoff winners will get Africa’s 5 locations at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar.