FIFA has sanctioned Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo following crowd-related incidents during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff in November, with both football federations fined for breaches of the global body’s disciplinary code.
In its latest disciplinary overview, FIFA said the two national associations were punished over separate incidents involving supporters during the African World Cup playoff final, which DR Congo won on penalties.
According to FIFA’s ruling, Nigerian supporters were found to have thrown objects onto the pitch during the match, an act the governing body said breached Article 17 and Article 17.2.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. As a result, the Nigeria Football Federation was fined 1,000 Swiss francs.
The Congolese Football Federation received a stiffer penalty after FIFA found that its supporters used laser pointers during the game, an offence said to be in violation of Article 17.2.d of the disciplinary code. FIFA consequently imposed a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs on the federation.
FIFA said each ruling was reached “based on the specific merits and circumstances of the individual cases,” while noting that the decisions remain subject to appeal.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary summary made no mention of Nigeria’s protest over the alleged use of ineligible players by DR Congo, an issue the Nigeria Football Federation had reportedly raised after the match.
The NFF had submitted a petition to FIFA accusing the Congolese federation of deception in the clearance of some players for national team duty, despite what it described as a status that contravened the country’s citizenship laws.
The Nigerian federation further alleged that some of the “fraudulently registered” players featured for DR Congo during the playoffs.
FIFA has yet to issue a ruling on that matter, even as DR Congo has already named its squad for the intercontinental playoffs later this month.
DR Congo are set to face the winners of the Jamaica versus New Caledonia fixture, with the final match to determine one of the last remaining places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Boluwatife Enome
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