Algeria’s desperate bid to have their World Cup play-off game with Cameroon replayed has hit the brick wall after the appeal was rejected by the competition organisers FIFA, the Algerian Football Federation have confirmed.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that Algeria actually won the first leg of the play-off 1-0 in March only to be beaten 2-1 in the return leg to miss out on one of the five berths at the finals for African nations.
Read Also: FIFA Announces Suspension Of Two African Countries
In the aftermath of the game, the Algerian federation claimed the refereeing of the second tie by Gambian Bakary Gassama was ‘scandalous’ while the FIFA referees committee rejected this view.
‘The referee’s decisions had no negative influence,’ FIFA said.
In a related development, FIFA, had last week announced that it had imposed a 150,000 Swiss Franc fine on Nigeria following the unruly behaviour of her fans at the end of the second leg Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off between the Super Eagles and Black Stars of Ghana which was held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on March 29.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the fine is about $154,128.75 or ₦63,992,404 in Nigerian Naira.
Recall that there was a reported breakdown of law and order after the encounter as the Black Stars edged Nigeria out of the Qatar 2022 race on the away goals rule.
The match ended 1-1 but the two had earlier played out a barren draw in the first leg in Ghana.
Video clips from the stadium showed that furious fans invaded the field and damaged facilities after the match.
Many analysts went on to point out that the anger expressed by the unruly fans were accumulated anger over poverty levels in the West African country which has made life hellish for most Nigerians.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee said there was a lack of order and security at the match venue.
The disciplinary overview document stated that there was a ‘failure to implement existing safety rules and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects.’
Apart from the 150,000 CHF fine, Nigeria will also play its next home match without fans.
