BANGKOK (5 May 2011) – FIFA have overruled the appeal by the FA of Thailand (FAT) against their forfeiture from playing in the second round of the 2012 Olympic Games.
FAT were adjudged by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to have fielded an ineligible player – Sutjarit Jantakol – in the first leg Olympic qualifiers when they beat Palestine 1-0 on 23 February in Bangkok.
Sutjarit had been suspended after picking up a one-match suspension for violent conduct in the AFC U-19 Championship in 2008 which he has yet to serve.
And while Thailand might have beaten Palestine on penalties (1-1 aet; 6-5) in the second leg on 9 March, the infringement has forced FIFA to rule against the FAT.
The ensuing appeal from the FAT was overruled by the FIFA Appeals Committee where consequently, the match was awarded 3-0 to Palestine, who now qualify for the second round of the qualifiers with an aggregate 4-0 win over Thailand.
As such, Palestine will replace Thailand in the second round of the Asian qualifiers of the men’s Olympic Football Tournament 2012 where they will face Bahrain.
The first leg will be on 19 June with the return tie four days later.
