CAIRO: Syria has been disqualified from competing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup after it was reported that it had fielded an ineligible player. As a result, the world football governing body has reinstated Tajikistan to take its spot. FIFA said on August 17 that Syria would forfeit its first leg of qualifying with Tajikistan, 3-0, after an ineligible player had suited up for matches. Syria won the matches 6-1 on aggregate, but FIFA said over the weekend that Syria has now been disqualified. “The Syrian team is disqualified from the competition, losing their second round knockout phase by forfeit,” FIFA said. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee reached the same decision regarding the second leg match (Tajikistan-Syria of 28 July 2011) due to the same ineligible player also taking part in this match,” the statement said. “In conformity with Article 7 of the Regulations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the Bureau of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup took the following decisions,” the statement said, adding “Tajikistan will take Syria's place in Group C of Asia qualifying along with Japan, Uzbekistan and North Korea.” BM
