Playoff: FIFA rejects Ethiopia protest

Ethiopia coach, Sewnet Bishaw

World football governing body FIFA  has responded to Ethiopia Football Federation’s protest letter against the referee’s decision to disallow their goal against Nigeria in a World Cup playoff  in Addis Ababa on Sunday, superspot.com reports.

The home side felt aggrieved after the referee decided that Salhadin Said’s shot had not crossed the line in the first half of the encounter in which the Super Eagles  came from behind to beat the Walya Antelopes  2-1.

Ethiopia coach Bishaw Sewnet  blamed Cameroonian  referee Neant Allioum for denying his team the  goal and for favouring  Nigeria.

“We lost the game because the referee was poor; we scored a goal that he cancelled and the referee also did other things that were questionable,” he said.

According to FIFA,  the decision of the referee was final and it cannot be overturned.

The letter signed by the  Director of Legal Affairs Marco Villiger and Head of Disciplinary and Governance Marc Cavallero read in part,  “We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 13 complaining about the referee’s  decision to disallow a goal against Nigeria. In respect, we would like to draw your attention to article 14 paragraph 6 of the regulations for the  2014 FIFA  World Cup in Brazil.

“According to which protests may be made about referee’s decision regarding facts connected with play, such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA disciplinary code.

“Therefore in view of the foregoing, we regret to inform you that we are not in any position to intervene in the matter. Finally, we would like to point out that the foregoing is of a purely informative nature and therefore, without prejudice to any decision whatever.”