“A lot of controversial things happened in the Africa zone World Cup qualifiers”
NBCNEWS – The Benin Football Federation (FBF) has lodged a complaint with world football’s governing body, FIFA, over the World Cup qualifier against RD Congo.
The appeal is about the fact that the national team nicknamed ‘The Leopards’ have made four substitutions on four separate occasions during the World Cup qualifiers on Sunday (14/11/2021).
According to current FIFA rules for international matches, teams are allowed to make up to five substitutes but only during three different periods of the match.
La Fédération de football du Bénin (FBF) a déposé, le 15 Novembre 2021, une plainte la #CAF et la #FIFA pour protester contre la violation des rgles de remplacement lors du matchs RD Congo🇨🇩 vs Bénin🇧🇯.
Le #Benin Exige que la #RDC soit considérée comme le perdant du match. pic.twitter.com/xmZah9KUCT
— Foot d’Afrique (@FootdAfrique) November 16, 2021
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DR Congo beat Benin 2-0 to qualify to the playoffs BUT DR Congo made 4 substitutions at 4 different stoppages in the 2nd half. Benin have submitted a protest and DR Congo could very well be disqualified (teams are allowed to make up to 5 changes but only during 3 stoppages). pic.twitter.com/p1Ha68ePdT
— Walid Ziani (@bylka613_) November 14, 2021
RD Congo yan now coached by Héctor Cúper managed to win the match 2-0 to advance to the 2022 World Cup Africa zone play-offs as Group J winners instead of Benin, who needed a draw in Kinshasa to progress.
“This is an appeal regarding a clear violation of the laws of the game by the DRC,” Benin’s sports minister, Oswald Homeky, told BBC Sport Africa.
“The number and moments of substitutions during the game are well known. The rules of the game are clear on that, so we have a case here.”
“The Benin Football Federation has asked FIFA to draw conclusions and take relevant action from this clear violation of the rules.”
According to the match report on the FIFA website, RD Congo had made their first change in the 63rd minute, when they were leading 1-0. Two substitutions were made after the second goal in the 77th minute and then the 84th before the last substitution came in late injury time.
Previously, the South African Football Federation (COSAFA), also complained about the referee’s decision when they lost to Ghana due to a controversial penalty.
FIFA, CAF, QATAR WORLD CUP: Force FIFA to act against Match fixing and replay the Ghana vs South Africa match – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/7ZOiiktS8T via @ChangeorgSA
— Sabata Phosa (@Sabchesa) November 17, 2021
(muflih miftahul kamal/muf)
