After threatening to oppose FIFA’s decision for a replay of South Africa VS Senegal in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Burkina Faso have officially filed a complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) demanding the cancellation of such arrangement.
The world’s football governing body annulled South Africa vs. Senegal earlier meeting of November 12, 2016 due to poor officiating, with the referee of the match Joseph Lamptey from Ghana handed a lifetime ban.
However, Burkina Faso, who share the same Group D with both teams, claim FIFA’s ruling was uncalled for based on the body’s regulations, as a replay could alter the standing of the group currently led on 6 points by Burkina Faso.
“On September 18, 2017, the Burkina Faso Football Federation filed an official complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) to appeal against the decision to replay that game because it goes against established regulations of FIFA,” the body said in a communiqué.
“Despite the waves of anger and opposition from around the world against a decision deemed unlawful and unprecedented in the history of football, FIFA preferred to tread on its own principles by endorsing a replay of the South Africa v Senegal in November 2017. This is not without consequence for the continuation of the competition.”
Both teams have accepted to return to the pitch, with FIFA promising to foot the bills for the game holding in Johannesburg next month on a date earlier scheduled for the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
Bafana Bafana won the previous meeting 2-1 played in Polokwane, but complaints from Senegal officials led FIFA to review the match which prompted the decisions.
