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Iraq 0 v Qatar 1 Post your comment 22 June 2008
Qatar decision a dark day for football
"
Iraq 0 v Qatar 1 Post your comment 22 June 2008
Qatar decision a dark day for football
"Well all I can say is bollocks, FIFA. If world football's governing body demands respect from fans and journalists and governments it needs to be consistent.
Danny Vukovic was rightly made to serve his ban without an FFA-tailored "window". Various FAs (Kenya, Iran, Iraq) have rightly been brought to task for political interference.
So what on earth has the Qatari Football Association done to escape serious sanction for fielding a Brazilian, Marcio Passos De Albuquerque aka Emerson, in a World Cup qualifying match in Doha when he was ineligible to represent the Middle East state, having turned out for the Brazilian under-20 team in 1999?
Qatar should have been docked three points. They should be out of World Cup contention and Iraq in their place.
But Emerson and the Qataris got off scot-free because an official letter of complaint made by the Iraqis came after the March 26 match in question and not before. Once a ball was kicked, FIFA's hands were tied.
It was quick to point out to the Iraqis that article 13 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Regulations clearly stipulates that all protests about player eligibility in WCQs be submitted in writing to its general secretariat 24 hours before the matches are held.
I've checked out the fine print and it says just that. All well and fine.
But then there is article 7 in the same document, which states unequivocally: "Each [national football] association shall ensure the following when selecting its representative team... a) all players shall be citizens of its country and subject to its jurisdiction; b) all players shall be eligible for selection in accordance with the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes and other relevant FIFA regulations.
"Any team that is found guilty of fielding an ineligible player shall forfeit the match in question. Victory and the resultant three points will be awarded to the opposing team as well as the score of 3-0, or greater, depending on the score of the match."
I don't know how it can be more clear-cut. The Qatar FA was asked to "ensure" before selecting its national team that all its players be "eligible for selection". It did not. It demonstrably failed its obligations to FIFA.
Yet for some unfathomable reason we have a situation where the original offence committed by the Qatar FA under Article 7 has been overridden by the tardiness of the Iraqis under Article 13, which now, lo and behold, now obviates the Qataris of all responsibility and punishes Iraq. Emerson, meanwhile, has been informed that he can never play for Qatar again.
The only explanation proffered by FIFA for this outrage is that the Qatar FA is "not responsible". How so?
Clearly the guy was a Brazilian not Bedouin. Whether or not he falsified his passport to change his age is irrelevant, a red herring (Emerson was arrested in Brazil for travelling with false documents in 2006).
It was incumbent upon the Qatar FA to vet Emerson's footballing record. There are only two explanations for what transpired once he became a citizen of Qatar. The Qatar FA did not check -- or, worse, it did check but still went ahead and fielded him anyway.
Either way, guilty in my book.
But I don't make that decision. Who does? Guys like Salman Bin Ibrahim Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the deputy chairman of FIFA's Disciplinary Committee and president of the Bahrain FA, one of the many Al Khalifas who run Bahrain and a good part of the Middle East.
Mohammed bin Hammam, the Qatari president of the Asian Football Confederation, visited the Gulf in February with FIFA president Sepp Blatter to inaugurate the AFC-funded Bahrain FA Accommodation and Training Centre in Manama.
I'm not alleging any corruption or impropriety on anyone's part, but it's not a good look for FIFA when Bahrain, the beneficiary of AFC largesse, is entrusted with making a decision that determines the World Cup future of a country, Qatar, that happens to be the home of the AFC president and host of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
I'm not even about to go into the conspiracy theories surrounding the Iraq-Qatar match in Dubai just gone, but suffice it to say some important people in very high places are convinced something was awry with the final result.
Anyone with enough time and interest can plough through the websites that have sprung up discussing everything from the choice of referee (a Qatari-born Emirati!) to the adverse pressure put on those Iraqis contracted to Qatari clubs to the benching of Younis Mahmoud.
Football fans the world over are owed a better explanation than the Qatar FA was "not responsible" for the Emerson affair.
If FIFA wants to promote fair play, it also has to practise it."
Article taken from SBS The World Game
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/qatar-decision-a-da rk-day-for-football-121838/
By Half Time Orange - Jesse Fink | 27 June 2008 | 12:31
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Iraq 0 v Qatar 1 22-June-2008 Goal
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Australia 0 v China 1 22-June-08 World Cup 2010 Qualification
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Australia 0 v China 1 Goal 22-June-08
China too good for Socceroos
Sun Xiang has struc
Australia 0 v China 1 Goal 22-June-08
China too good for Socceroos
Sun Xiang has struck a memorable winner as China completed their failed 2010 World Cup qualification campaign with a 1-0 victory against already-qualified Australia at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
Sun scored the only goal of the game with a sweet strike from outside the penalty area after 12 minutes to condemn the hosts to their first home defeat in the tournament since losing to New Zealand in 1981.
And it could have been worse for the Socceroos with Zheng Zhi missing a twice-taken penalty 14 minutes from time. It was tough on the China substitute after the referee had ordered him to re-take his kick after slotting home at the first time of asking.
With qualification to the final round of World Cup qualifying assured Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek named a much-changed side, with only captain Harry Kewell and defender Jade North having more than 10 international caps to their name.
And it was a player on his debut, Derby County defender Ruben Zadkovich, who directed his headed clearance straight at Sun to allow him time to take a touch before firing a 25-yard shot past goalkeeper Michael Petkovic at his near post.
Australia's first opportunity came in the 20th minute when Kewell floated a left-foot cross into the box for Bruce Djite, who at full stretch, just failed to get his head to the ball.
Mile Jedinak then went close with a header from a free-kick before James Troisi's run and shot required the China defence to scramble a clearance.
The hosts rounded off a patchy first-half performance with Djite smashing a volley over the crossbar after Kewell had chested the ball down on the edge of the box.
Australia began the second half with a lot more urgency, but it was China who enjoyed the best of the early chances.
Set free by a lovely long ball, Qu Bo hammered his shot well over the crossbar from close range with only Petkovic to beat.
The crossbar then came to the Socceroos' rescue in the 58th minute - a floating cross beating Petkovic before striking the woodwork - before Djite responded seconds later with a wayward effort at the other end.
There was drama in the 76th minute when Zadkovich, who had a largely forgettable evening, conceded a penalty when ruled to have up-ended Gao Lin in the box.
Zheng smashed the spot kick past Petkovic but the referee spotted an encroachment, disallowing the goal and ordering Zhi to step up to the spot again.
Zheng dragged his second effort wide of the right upright, but it did not matter as China easily held on to their advantage against an Australia team that asked few questions of their blockading defence in the final minutes.
Australia will recommence their campaign to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup finals appearance in September when Asia's top 10 nations fight it out for four automatic berths to South Africa.
Article from ABS The World Game
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Qatar 1 v Australia 3 Was it a GOAL By Harry Kewell ????
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Qatar 1 v Australia 3 14-6-2008 2010 World Cup Qualifier
Socceroos through in style
Qatar 1 v Australia 3 14-6-2008 2010 World Cup Qualifier
Socceroos through in style
"Australia have progressed to the final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Qatar at Al Sadd Stadium.
Brett Emerton grabbed a brace while Harry Kewell also found the back of the net before Khalfan Ibrahim claimed a late consolation for the hosts.
Pim Verbeek's side went in front after 16 minutes when Kewell fed Mark Bresciano on the left wing and although Kewell completely missed the return ball, Emerton arrived at the far post to sidefoot home.
Bresciano was involved again as Australia nearly extended their lead shortly afterwards when a threaded pass put him clear and the midfielder managed to round keeper Mohamed Saqr but the Qatar defence cleared his cross with Brett Holman lurking.
Sebastian Quintana then almost produced a spectacular equaliser for Qatar in the 38th minute.
After battling to reach Fabio Cesar's low cross from the right, his initial attempt was blocked but the ball spun into the air and the 24-year-old striker's subsequent improvised backheel flew just wide with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer stranded.
Australia established a two-goal cushion after 55 minutes when Schwarzer's long punt upfield was flicked on by Kewell to Holman and he lifted a cute ball over the top into Emerton's path. The midfielder took one touch to bring the ball under control before slotting it past the onrushing Saqr.
The Socceroos thought they had netted a third in the 58th minute when Bresciano made his way down the right to the byline and pulled the ball back to Kewell, who dispatched it into the back of the net but his effort was ruled for a foul by Emerton.
Kewell did eventually get on the scoresheet after 74 minutes when Meesad Al Hamad made a complete hash of Holman's cross from the left and the 29-year-old gleefully beat Saqr with a powerful finish at the back post.
Qatar breached the Australian defence in the 89th minute when Magid Mohamad turned a defender and raced into the box and although Schwarzer parried his shot, a stretching Ibrahim knocked in the rebound."
Article from SBS the World Game
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Iraq 1 v Australia 0 7-June-2008 Goal
Iraq's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cu
Iraq 1 v Australia 0 7-June-2008 Goal
Iraq's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa have received a major boost with Emad Mohammed's solitary goal handing the Asian champions victory over Australia.
Mohammed struck from distance 28 minutes into the clash with the Socceroos to give Iraq their first win of the current phase of the campaign and keeps their prospects of progressing to the final round of qualifying alive with two matches remaining in Group One.
The Iraqis now stand on four points, three behind group leaders Australia, who suffered their first defeat since the arrival of Dutch coach Pim Verbeek.
Qatar are in second place, also with seven points, while China are at the bottom of the standings with three points.
After losing in Brisbane last week, the Iraqis went into the game needing to repeat their surprise win over the Australians at last year's Asian Cup finals to have any chance of qualifying for their first World Cup finals since 1986.
After an even start to the game, Adnan Hamed's side began to dominate proceedings midway through the first half.
By the 28th minute they had taken the lead when Mohammed's deep, inswinging effort from near the left-hand touchline caught out Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who was off his line, and he could not scramble back in time to prevent the ball dropping into the net.
The Iraqis went close to doubling their advantage early in the second half when Mohammed's cute backheel set Nashat Akram free and his low cross had to be scrambled clear with captain Younis Mahmood lurking at the near post.
Brett Holman missed the opportunity to pull Australia level when he shot straight at goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abbas just after the hour-mark while Haitham Kadhim's challenge robbed Scott McDonald of a clear strike on goal.
David Carney was then denied by a combination of Bassim Gatea and Noor deep in stoppage-time as Iraq held on to claim a much-needed win.
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