(UTV|COLOMBO) – The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Macau Football Association (MFA) for failing to play the second leg of their first-round match against Sri Lanka in the AFC’s FIFA World Cup 2022 preliminary competition.
In a statement issued by FIFA, they sanctioned Macau Football Association with a heavy penalty and awarded the win to Sri Lanka. “The match between Sri Lanka and Macau, which was due to be played on 11 June 2019, has been declared a 3-0 forfeit victory for Sri Lanka, with the Macau Football Association also receiving a fine of CHF 10,000 after the FIFA Disciplinary committee considered the association liable for the breach of article 5 of the FIFA World Cup 2022 regulations (related to withdrawal, unplayed matches and abandoned matches) and article 56 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (related to unplayed matches and abandonment),” according to the statement.
Consequently, Sri Lanka have qualified for the second round of the AFC’s FIFA World Cup 2022 preliminary competition and will participate in the draw that will take place at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on July 17. Sri Lanka lost 1-0 to Macau in the 1st leg of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 & AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 before the MFA refused to travel to Sri Lanka citing security reasons.
Sri Lanka will now embark on a year-long qualification process in the group stage which will commence in September and will play a minimum of eight international matches on home and away basis.”
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