Check FIFA’s reply to Zambia FA protest over disallowed goal in Uyo
FIFA has put a close to the debate around the complaint lodged by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) over an Augustine Mulenga disallowed goal in the 1-0 loss against Nigeria in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier on October 7.
The World soccer governing body has ruled that it would not act on the complaint as per their regulations there was no evidence of external influence or manipulation.
According to a letter signed by Disciplinary Committee vice chairperson Julien Deux, dated October 17, 2017 there could be no action as guided by article 5.6 of the FIFA regulations the referee’s decision is final.
“In this context, we refer your association to article 15 par 6, of the regulations of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, which clearly stipulates that no protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal,” stated the letter.
“Having said that, and for the sake of good order, we would like to emphasize that on the basis of the documentation and information currently in our possession, there is no evidence of any infringement of the applicable regulations by the referees of the match in question.”
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) filed a complaint with FIFA seeking an independent review of the match officiated by Botswana referee Joshua Bondo.
There was widespread outcry for FAZ to appeal to FIFA over the disallowed goal with parallels drawn with other situations where the world soccer governing body had ordered replays.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga had told journalists on the permutations of the outcome when journalists pressed him in the aftermath of the match in Uyo.
“But the rules being what they are you cannot overturn the decision of the referee,” Kamanga said.
“The only basis is when there was external influence. So the referee maybe carpeted for making a wrong decision but the decision still stands and unfortunately that is where we stand.”
