ZCZC
BSP-03
FBL-WC-U17-SOL
Solomons thrown out of U-17 World Cup for over-age player
WELLINGTON, Feb 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Solomon Islands have been thrown
out of this year’s Fifa under-17 World Cup for fielding an over-age player
during qualifying.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said in a statement Sunday that
the Solomons breached regulations by fielding a player in the regional under-
16 tournament last year who was born before the qualifying date of January 1,
2002.
The Solomons finished second to New Zealand in the tournament which
qualified them for the under-17 World Cup to be hosted by Peru in October.
However, the OFC disciplinary committee found the Solomon Islands had
committed a “deliberate and serious breach” of the regulations which has
“resulted in the forfeiting of the team’s place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup
2019.”
A decision will be made soon on who will replace the Solomons at the World
Cup with the leading contender expected to be Tahiti who beat Fiji in the
play-off for third in the regional qualifier.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0839 hrs