Emerson celebrates after scoring a goal against Saudi Al-Ahli during the AFC Champions League match at Al-Sadd stadium in Doha on March 12, 2008. AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: FIFA has informed the Iraqi Football Association that their complaint regarding the eligibility of Qatar’s Brazilian-born player Emerson (Marcio Passos De Albuquerque) cannot be submitted to the Organising Committee for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa as it did not meet the time-line stipulated for such protests.

FIFA, vide a letter dated June 23, 2008, has drawn the Iraqi Football Association’s attention to article 13 par 3 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Regulations according to which protests regarding the eligibility of players nominated for matches in the preliminary competition should be submitted in writing to the general secretariat no later than 24 hours before the match in question.

Earlier, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee examined the case and cleared the Qatar Football Association of any wrongdoing, noting that “pursuant to the decision of the Qatar FA, the player is not eligible to play for Qatar and cannot play any further matches for the representative team of Qatar.”