Greece show fabulous fairplay in victory over Romania

Greece coach Fernando Santos thrown into the air after the Greeks qualified for the 2014 World Cup

Greece qualified for the 2014 World Cup after defeating Romania over two legs in their qualification playoff. But they could have avoided the trouble and qualified with much more ease instead if they had submitted a complaint regarding a Romanian error before the first leg.

FIFA rules dictate that all national teams announcing a squad of 23 players must compulsorily have three goalkeepers in their squad. But Romania did not oblige by that rule naming only two goalkeepers in their squad.

Had Greece restored to FIFA, the result would have been annulled, and the Greeks would have won the game 3-0.

Takis Fyssas, the director of the Greek Football Federation, supposedly told the Romanians that Greece wanted to qualify by merit on the field and not just through some formalities.

This gesture of Greece has made them favourites to pick up the FIFA Fairplay Award for 2013, which will be awarded along with the Ballon d’Or.