Bahrain protest no-goal to FIFA
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The Bahrain Football Association said yesterday that they had asked FIFA to annul their World Cup play-off loss to Trinidad and Tobago because of a disallowed goal. Association vice president Sheik Ali Al Khalifa told The Associated Press that Bahrain sent an official complaint to FIFA at the end of Wednesday’s match after a goal by Hussain Ali was disallowed. "We hope that FIFA will take action. It’s up to them. I’m not optimistic that we’ll get a result," Sheik Ali said. "We filed a complaint because it’s the only thing we can do now." Trailing 1-0, Ali kicked the ball away from Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kelvin Jack as he was trying to send it downfield. Ali then put the ball in the net, but it was disallowed as Jack was still in his area. Bahrain players, furious that the goal didn’t count, surrounded the referee and began pushing and shoving their opponents. Trinidad and Tobago held on to win the game 1-0 to advance to the World Cup finals for the first time with a 2-1 aggregate victory. "The goal should have counted. The ball was taken fairly, without causing any danger to the goalkeeper. It was poked away from him," Sheik Ali said. Bahrain advanced to the playoff after beating Uzbekistan in an Asian playoff. The first leg of the earlier play-off ended in a 1-0 win for Uzbekistan, but FIFA ordered a replay because of a referee’s error. Bahrain drew 1-1 in the replay, and held Uzbekistan to a 0-0 draw at home to advance on away goals.
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"Bahrain protest no-goal to FIFA"