World football governing body, Fifa has declared South Africa’s protest against Ghana inadmissible.
This means Ghana’s qualification to the playoffs of the African qualifiers for the 2022 Fifa World Cup has been legitimized.
The South African Football Association’s protest against the Black Stars’ 1-0 win over the Bafana Bafana was not lodged properly as spelt out by the Ghana Football Association in its response to the protest.
The Fifa verdict on Friday said: “The protest lodged by South Africa has been declared inadmissible by the Disciplinary Committee as it did not meet the requirements foreseen under art. 46 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code and art. 14 of the Regulations of the Preliminary Competition of the Fifa World Cup 2022. The decision is subject to appeal.”
The mentioned articles say: “Unless otherwise stipulated in this article, protests shall be submitted in writing to the Fifa Match Commissioner within two hours of the match in question and followed up with a full written report, including a copy of the original protest, to be sent by email to the Fifa general secretariat within 24 hours of the end of the match, otherwise they shall be disregarded.”
South Africa did not lodge a complaint within the stipulated time but only did so verbally to the match commission.
Background
Ghana defeated South Africa 1-0 on November 14 in a Group G decider of the African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Cape Coast courtesy of an Andre Ayew penalty.
The Bafana Bafana were three points ahead of the Black Stars and Ghana needed any kind of win to qualify, consequently edging South Africa on goals scored as both teams were pegged on 13 points after Ghana’s win in the final group game.
South Africa said the Senegalese match official showed bias against them and awarded the Black Stars a dubious penalty.
They followed it up with a complaint to Fifa alleging match-fixing and requesting a replay of the match.
Fifa acknowledged receipt and asked Ghana for a response if any.
The protest has now been declared inadmissible by Fifa.
Below is a copy of the decision Fifa sent to the Ghana FA:
By Adamu Benin Abdul Karim
