FIFA Rejects Ethiopia Protest Over Disallowed Goal

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.