YANGON (14 Nov 2011) – The Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) have heaved a huge sigh of relief following the announcement from FIFA this week that they have been allowed to take part in the qualifying round of the 2018 World Cup.
The MFF were banned by FIFA in September from taking part in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
This follows crowd trouble in a second leg 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers match against Oman on 28 July which was called off after local supporters hurled objects onto the field.
The score at the time of interruption stood at 2-0 for Oman, who had also won the first leg 2-0.
The Bureau of the Organizing Committee of the FIFA World Cup confirmed that the result would be final – qualifying Oman for the next round of Asia’s preliminary competition.
In addition to the exclusion, the MFF were also ordered by FIFA to pay a fine of 25,000 Swiss franc (USD27,725). It was also ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings, which totalled 2,000 Swiss franc (USD2,218).
But the MFF appealed the decision and met with the FIFA Appeal Committee. The Committee then announced FIFA will partially uphold the appeal by annulling their decision to exclude Myanmar from the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“The Myanmar Football Federation will therefore be reintegrated into the preliminary competition,” FIFA said in a statement. “The MFF will now be required to play all their home matches in the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on neutral ground in another country.”
The fines ordered in September were upheld and FIFA warned the MFF that they will consider further sanctions should similar incidents happen again.
