QATAR have been cleared of any wrongdoing despite allegations they fielded an ineligible player in a crucial World Cup qualifying win over Iraq, football's world governing body FIFA said.
Iraq, as well as Asian qualifying zone Group One rivals China, protested over Brazilian-born Marcio Emerson Passos playing for the Gulf side in March's match in Doha which Qatar won 2-0.
They claimed that Emerson had represented Brazil at youth level and was therefore ineligible for Qatar under FIFA regulations.
But FIFA said the Qatar Football Association were not to blame and noted that Emerson has not played since.
"We can confirm that we received a request to look into the eligibility of the player for Qatar following the match between Iraq and Qatar," a FIFA spokesman said in a statement.
"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee examined the case and determined that the Qatar Football Association was not responsible.
"It was also ascertained that, pursuant to the decision of the Qatar FA, the player is not eligible to play for Qatar and cannot play any further matches for the representative team of Qatar."
Had Qatar been found guilty of the offence, they could have been docked the three points they had won.
Qatar and Iraq are locked on seven points each in Group One and meet in Dubai on Sunday with the winner guaranteed a place in the 10-team, final Asian qualifying round.
Australia, who top the group with 10 points, have already made sure of their place in the next stage.
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Qatar cleared over player row
QATAR have been cleared of any wrongdoing despite allegations they fielded an ineligible player in a crucial World Cup qualifying win over Iraq, football's world governing body FIFA said.
Iraq, as well as Asian qualifying zone Group One rivals China, protested over Brazilian-born Marcio Emerson Passos playing for the Gulf side in March's match in Doha which Qatar won 2-0.
They claimed that Emerson had represented Brazil at youth level and was therefore ineligible for Qatar under FIFA regulations.
But FIFA said the Qatar Football Association were not to blame and noted that Emerson has not played since.
"We can confirm that we received a request to look into the eligibility of the player for Qatar following the match between Iraq and Qatar," a FIFA spokesman said in a statement.
"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee examined the case and determined that the Qatar Football Association was not responsible.
"It was also ascertained that, pursuant to the decision of the Qatar FA, the player is not eligible to play for Qatar and cannot play any further matches for the representative team of Qatar."
Had Qatar been found guilty of the offence, they could have been docked the three points they had won.
Qatar and Iraq are locked on seven points each in Group One and meet in Dubai on Sunday with the winner guaranteed a place in the 10-team, final Asian qualifying round.
Australia, who top the group with 10 points, have already made sure of their place in the next stage.