Iraqi player Alaa Abdulzehra (R) stretches before training for their AFC Asian Cup semi-final football match in Sydney on January 25, PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY: Iran’s protest that Iraq fielded an ineligible player in their stormy Asian Cup quarter-final was rejected following lengthy deliberation by tournament organisers yesterday.
Iran lodged a formal complaint, claiming that midfielder Alaa Abdulzehra failed a drugs test while playing for an Iranian club last year, but it was rejected by the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) disciplinary committee.
“It’s rejected, they said this player can carry on and play,” said Iranian delegation head Houshang Moghaddas. “Iraq can play tomorrow ... tomorrow morning we fly [home],” he added. An AFC statement released later said that the protest was ‘unfounded’, without giving further details.
The decision follows hours of talks in Sydney with Iraqi and Iranian delegates both giving evidence to the AFC’s disciplinary committee.
It means 2007 champions Iraq, who won Friday’s combustible match on penalties, are free to contest their semi-final against South Korea today.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2015.
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