The stripping of three points from Sudan in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Zambia because one of its scorers was ineligible to play should serve as a warning to sports associations says Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAVASOFA) Patron, Pastor Peter Makembo. The stripping of three points from Sudan in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Zambia because one of its scorers was ineligible to play should serve as a warning to sports associations says Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAVASOFA) Patron, Pastor Peter Makembo.
Speaking in an interview with the Lusaka star, Pastor Makembo said the incident should not only be a warning to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), but also to other sports associations that want to field ineligible players in the country – cheating has got penalties.
“The action taken by FIFA against Sudan should be a lesson to sports associations in the country that break rules,” he said.
Pastor Makembo also asserted that it was right to strip Sudan of the three points because they broke the FIFA rules adding that awarding the points to Zambia was a fair decision.
FIFA stripped Sudan of points gained in the 2-0 victory against Zambia in the 2014 World Cup qualifier which was played on 2 June 2012, in Khartoum.
The disciplinary committee ruled that Sudanese player Saif Ali was ineligible to play, thus, Zambia was awarded a 3-0 victory.
The Sudan Football Association was also fined US$ 6, 430.
Pastor Makembo who warned the Chipolopolo not relax, said FIFA's decision to award Zambia the three points had given the Chipolopolo boys a high chance of making their first appearance at the World Cup.
“We should not underestimate our opponents because all the remaining games are tough ones,” Pastor Makembo warned.
Zambia protested that Ali played despite receiving yellow cards in previous competitive matches, including when Zambia beat Sudan in an African Cup of Nations quarterfinal in February.
Zambia now leads Group D with six points after two matches, and Sudan falls to third place with one point. Ghana has three points and last-place Lesotho has one.
