Ethiopia kicked out of World Cup

[Jacaylbaro]

Fifa has announced that Ethiopia have been kicked out of the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The decision was taken by the Bureau of the Organising Committee for the Fifa World Cup. The results from all four matches played by Ethiopia to date in Group 8 are now cancelled.

 

The Emergency Committee of football's world governing body suspended the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) on 29 July.

 

The EFF problems began in January when its general assembly fired the federation's president Dr Ashebir Woldergiorgis and elected Ahmed Yasin to replace him.

 

However, that January meeting was not recognised by Fifa, who together with Confederation of African Football then released a roadmap in February aimed at rectifying the situation.

 

The EFF had agreed to implement the roadmap, but failed to put it into action and was suspended six weeks ago as a result.

 

In August Fifa cancelled Ethiopia's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Morocco that was due to be played on the weekend of 5 to 7 September.

 

It means there are now just three teams in the group, Morocco, Mauritania and Rwanda.

 

Rwanda, who have completed their qualifying matches, top the group with nine points.

 

If Morocco beat Mauritania in the final group game they will go through as group winners thanks to a better goal difference or a superior number of goals scored.