The quietness by FIFA on the protest filed by Nigeria against DR Congo for fielding players with questionable nationality in the world cup qualifiers playoff final in November has been described as a support for illegality, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria protested after losing the ticket to represent Africa to DR Congo in the final in Morocco. They said at least seven players in the team of DR Congo hold dual nationality which is against the constitution of the country.
FIFA upon receiving the petition demanded answers from DR Congo, and since then haven’t made a decision with just three weeks left to the start of the intercontinental playoff in Mexico.
” They are supporting illegality. It’s not normal that they haven’t passed a judgement. Dismiss it or confirm it. As a governing body you just can’t keep quiet about a protest. They should be a judgement”, a board member of the NFF said.
” We submitted our case on the grounds that having a country’s passport or residency doesn’t mean eligibility to play for them. It’s in FIFA’s laws not like we create them. The players involved can’t be said to have sporting eligibility when they don’t have constitutional eligibility which international football is all about”, he stated.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
