West Ham United have been reprimanded and fined £71,000 by world football’s governing body over their claim that Senegal international Diafra Sakho was unfit to play in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sakho was named as a substitute in the east Londoner’s FA Cup tie, scoring the only goal in a win against Bristol City last weekend, while his international teammates were on the verge of going out of Africa’s biennial equivalent of the European Championship.
Implying Sakho’s fitness was marginal, the Hammers claim they took “extreme measures” to enable Sakho to take his place on the bench for the cup tie, claiming he took a private limo from London rather than fly with the rest of the squad.
Critics of FIFA’s punishment, which amounts to about three day’s wages for many of the English Premier League’s better paid players, had been calling for West Ham, managed by Sam Allardyce, to be forced to forfeit the FA Cup tie.
A FIFA statement today read: “FIFA can today confirm the decisions of its Disciplinary Committee in the case involving the English club West Ham United and the player Diafra Sakho.
“Diafra Sakho was called up by the Senegalese Football Association on 18 December 2014 to play for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 taking place in Equatorial Guinea between 17 January and 8 February 2015, as well as to attend the training camp of the said representative team from 5-16 January 2015 in Morocco.
“The Senegalese FA was informed by West Ham United that Sakho was prevented from playing and travelling by plane due to injury and thus he did not join the Senegal team.
“On 25 January 2015, the player took part in an official match for his club West Ham United. Senegal were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 on 27 January 2015.
“In view of the above and in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 of Annexe 1 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (hereinafter the Regulations), disciplinary proceedings were opened against the player and the club for a potential violation of Annexe 1 of the Regulations.”
West Ham released a statement following the decision in which they acknowledged the fine, but were unwilling to add any further comment.
“The club and the player have received the decision and will now be focusing their concentration on the game against Manchester United on Sunday,” it read.
Meanwhile Bristol City, who went out of the FA Cup and were denied a potentially lucrative replay in London by Sakho’s late winner, have expressed their disappointment over the fine and revealed they could still pursue the matter.
“Bristol City FC notes FIFA’s decision with regards to the Disciplinary Committee’s case against West Ham United and their player Diafra Sakho,” a club statement read, adding: “The club is disappointed with the penalty handed down by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and is considering its options. The club will be making no further comment at this time.”
