FIFA Act Against Recent Crisis at Syrian FA

FIFA have counteracted the recent crisis at the Syrian FA by appointing a normalisation committee to resolve the issues. 

It will be responsible with organising elections for a new Syrian FA Executive Committee by Dec. 11 “with none of the members of the committee having the right to contest in the elections”, the Asian Football Confederation reports.

Last week, a FIFA spokesman said that it was monitoring the crisis in Syrian football after the board of its federation resigned following the country’s ban from Brazil World Cup qualifying. 

FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled last month to disqualify the Middle Eastern country from the ongoing Asian qualifiers after Syria thrashed Tajikistan 6-1 on aggregate during July’s second round. 

Syria had fielded an ineligible player in George Murad who had played for Sweden earlier in his career.

FIFA’s disciplinary panel on Aug. 17 declared the first-leg to be lost by Syria by forfeit (0:3) due to Mourad taking part. It reached the same decision regarding the second leg for the same reason.

Tajikistan, world ranked 153, advanced to the third round instead. 

Syria coach Nizar Mahrous quit soon after his national side was booted out of 2014 qualifying. 

“I have lost the will and power to work after all that has happened,” Mahrous was quoted by the Syrian press. “All the efforts we did have been wasted.”

But Tajikistan’s hopes of reaching Brazil 2014 have since evaporated after 1-0 losses to Uzbekistan and North Korea earlier this month.

Currently lying bottom of Asia’s Group C qualifying table, Tajikistan will next play Asian Cup champions Japan home and away in October and November.