FIFA says it rejected Ukraine’s appeal against sanctions imposed after fans racially abused their own black player and made Nazi salutes.
FIFA previously criticized “shameful” incidents at a World Cup qualifying match in Lviv, which is bidding to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. FIFA says Arena Lviv is barred from staging qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Ukraine must also play its first home 2018 qualifier in an empty stadium. The Ukrainian football federation, which was also fined 45,000 Swiss francs ($50,000), can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA acted on reports from monitoring group Fare, which attended Ukraine’s 9-0 victory over San Marino on Sept. 6. Fare reported “Nazi salutes and racist monkey noises targeting Edmar,” a Brazil-born Ukraine player who is black.
Trapped player gets visa to leave Qatar
ZURICH: Under international pressure, Qatar finally granted an exit visa to a trapped French-Algerian football player whose case became a cause celebre for critics of the 2022 World Cup host.
Mahdi Belounis said his brother Zahir called him on Wednesday morning to say “he has the exit visa in his hands.” “He’s very happy. He has booked his flight,” the brother said in a telephone interview. Zahir Belounis’ ordeal was becoming a mounting embarrassment for the Gulf state. Players’ union FIFPro.
FIFA previously criticized “shameful” incidents at a World Cup qualifying match in Lviv, which is bidding to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. FIFA says Arena Lviv is barred from staging qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Ukraine must also play its first home 2018 qualifier in an empty stadium. The Ukrainian football federation, which was also fined 45,000 Swiss francs ($50,000), can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA acted on reports from monitoring group Fare, which attended Ukraine’s 9-0 victory over San Marino on Sept. 6. Fare reported “Nazi salutes and racist monkey noises targeting Edmar,” a Brazil-born Ukraine player who is black.
Trapped player gets visa to leave Qatar
ZURICH: Under international pressure, Qatar finally granted an exit visa to a trapped French-Algerian football player whose case became a cause celebre for critics of the 2022 World Cup host.
Mahdi Belounis said his brother Zahir called him on Wednesday morning to say “he has the exit visa in his hands.” “He’s very happy. He has booked his flight,” the brother said in a telephone interview. Zahir Belounis’ ordeal was becoming a mounting embarrassment for the Gulf state. Players’ union FIFPro.