FIFA reject Bahrain football appeal

A late Bahrain "goal" in the second leg was disallowed by Colombian referee Oscar Julian Ruiz Acosta for dangerous play. Bahrain lost the second leg 1-0 and 2-1 on aggregate, giving Trinidad a place in the finals for the first time.

A FIFA spokesman said Bahrain’s football federation had been informed that an appeal could not be granted because their protest had not been filed in time under FIFA’s regulations.

"Therefore the protest cannot be heard," the spokesman said yesterday. Bahrain had previously squeezed through the Asian play-offs against Uzbekistan on a technicality.

Bahrain originally lost the first leg of that playoff 1-0 to Uzbekistan in Tashkent on September 3 but the result was annulled by FIFA because of a refereeing error.

The match was later replayed and ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that was enough for Bahrain to advance to the play-off final against Trinidad.