FIFA rejects appeals of Bolivia in relation to the fielding of an ineligible player

Press Release

3 February 2017

The FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to reject the appeals lodged by the Bolivian Football Association (FBF) and to confirm in its entirety the decisions rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in the cases relating to the fielding of an ineligible player – Nelson Cabrera – in the preliminary competition matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ played between Bolivia and Peru on 1 September 2016 and between Chile and Bolivia on 6 September 2016.

As such, both matches are declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Peru and 3-0 in favour of Chile, with the FBF also receiving two fines of CHF 6,000 each.

Please see below for the original media release on the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision:

1 November 2016 - The Bolivian Football Association (FBF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ played between Bolivia and Peru on 1 September 2016 and between Chile and Bolivia on 6 September 2016.

Both matches are declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Peru and 3-0 in favour of Chile, with the FBF also receiving a total fine of CHF 12,000 after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee deemed the FBF liable for having breached art. 55 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and art. 8 of the Regulations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Upon delivering its decision, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee referred to the wording of art. 55 of the FDC, which sets a clear sanction for any breach of eligibility rules.

The sanction relates to the player Nelson Cabrera who was fielded by Bolivia in breach of the rules on eligibility to play for representative teams set out in the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes.

The sanction will have immediate effect.

Monday, 06 February 2017