FULL TEXT OF FIFA RULING RELEASED THIS MORNING: why Ethiopia must now accept a 3-0 defeat for beating Botswana

Banned: Minyahile Teshome Beyene

This is the result of FIFA.com's surprise post this morning, confirming deduction of THREE points from Ethiopia. Trying to reach Danny Jordaan (currently flying back to SA from Confeds Cup in Brazil) to talk about SAFA's hopes of a SIX POINT deduction. SAFA have certainly sent a letter on this subject to FIFA though I personally think it's a long shot. The THREE possible tables (old, new and possible) are now at the bottom of this story. If you scroll through earlier blogs you'll find plenty of other information about CAF World Cup qualifying Group A. For now, here's the story that dropped on FIFA's official website this morning:



FIFA can confirm that the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ between Botswana and Ethiopia played on 8 June 2013. 



The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Botswana, with the EFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000 after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considered the EFF liable for having breached art. 55 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Regulations. 



The sanction relates to the Ethiopian player Minyahile Teshome Beyene failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him following two cautions received in two different matches (art. 17 par. 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code).

For the original story as it broke:
http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/world-cup-heartbreak-bafana-bafana.html

For the Ethiopian apology and revised table:
http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/ethiopia-full-sorry-truth-about-blunder.html


For Danny Jordaan's SIX POINT argument and THREE possible tables:
http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/dannys-double-jeopardy-why-ethiopia.html


TABLES:

CAF World Cup qualifying Group A before FIFA action:

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Ethiopia 5 4 1 0 8 3 +5 13  South Africa 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 8  Botswana 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4  Central African Republic 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3

How the table looks NOW:

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Ethiopia 5 3 1 1 6 5 +1 10  South Africa 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 8  Botswana 5 2 1 2 7 6 +1 7  Central African Republic 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3 How the table will look if FIFA act on BOTH games:

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
South Africa	5	3	2	0	10	2	+8	11
Ethiopia	5	2	1	2	4	7	-3	7
Botswana	5	2	1	2	7	6	+1	7
Central African Republic	5	1	0	4	4	10	−6	3