The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Socceroos granted clean card slate before World Cup qualifier

Football's place in Australian society is no less significant than any other sport. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Guru
6th November, 2017
7

The Socceroos have been handed a major boost ahead of their all-important World Cup qualifying match against Honduras on the 11th of November, granted a clean disciplinary slate by FIFA.

Before the ruling, any player who had received a yellow card this qualifying campaign would have been suspended for the second leg against Honduras if they were to pick up another card in the first.

FIFA’s announcement means that all past cautions will be disregarded, and the team will be given a clean slate. This essentially guarantees that all players will be eligible to play in Sydney (barring injury).

However, the news wasn’t all positive for Australia, with key players Mark Milligan and Mathew Leckie still ruled out of the first leg through the suspensions they picked up in the previous stage of qualifying.

The ruling will still come as a relief, with a host of Socceroos previously at risk of missing the second leg had they picked up a yellow card in San Pedro Sula.

Tom Rogic, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Ryan McGowan, Jackson Irvine, Milos Degenek, Josh Risdon and Tomi Juric were all on cautions coming into the playoff, but will now be able to play freely without the threat of missing the second leg. Robbie Kruse also had a yellow card on his record but will miss the first qualifier due to injury. In some cases, the yellow card cautions dated back as far as a year ago.

Honduras were granted the same clean slate yesterday under articles 36-38 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

The move created widespread confusion and anger from an Australian perspective, with most complaints claiming the ruling, which was designed to create a fair game, had done the opposite.

Advertisement

FFA CEO David Gallop praised the decision, saying it was a “victory for fair play.”

“We thank FIFA for considering this exceptional circumstance and making their decision,” said Gallop.

“This decision will allow both teams to field their best players, on even terms, for these extremely important play-off matches which is what all football fans want to see.”

The Socceroos’ first leg against Honduras will be played this Saturday, November 11, at 9am (AEDT) before the second leg in Sydney on Wednesday, November 15 at 8pm.

close