Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Zurich: Oman have been awarded a 3-0 victory in their London 2012 third round qualifying match against Qatar after FIFA found the QFA (Qatar Football Association) guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the November 27 fixture.
The Group A match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex had originally ended in a 1-1 draw but the three points were given to Oman as Qatar fielded midfielder Abdelaziz Hatim, who should have been suspended for that match.
Hatim, who plays his club football for 2012 AFC Champions League participants Al Arabi, was booked against India in the second round of qualifiers for this year's Olympics before picking up another yellow card in the round three game with Korea Republic, which should have saw him sit out the following week's clash with Oman.
Contravening article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code cost the QFA 7000 Swiss Francs (US$ 7600 approx.) in fines and costs but more significantly saw their Olympic team drop to third in the Group A standings with an amended total of two points, four behind second-place Oman who are in turn now just one point shy of leaders Korea Republic.
Qatar will be looking to close the gap on Oman when they host the Gulf sultanate on Sunday, when the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2012 Olympic Games resumes.