Cape Verde disqualified from FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers

Cape Verde’s Fernando Varela (L) was ineligible for their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on Saturday

Cape Verde have been disqualified from African qualification for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year after they fielded an ineligible player against Tunisia in their group qualifier on Saturday. FIFA ruled that Fernando Varela was ineligible to play as he had “failed to serve the full four-match suspension imposed on him after receiving a red card for unsporting conduct towards a match official during a FIFA World Cup™ qualifier on 24 March 2013, ” according to a statement on FIFA’s website. Cape Verde had won the match 2-0 but FIFA’s ruling awarded the match 3-0 to Tunisia, meaning that they will finish at the top of Group B with 14 points while Cape Verde had 9 points. The Tunisians will now be in the draw on September 16th and Cape Verde have been fined $6,400.