Updated at 11.01
FIFA ON WEDNESDAY ordered a World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal to be replayed after the referee was banned for match fixing.
The November 2016 tie, which will be restaged in November, was won by South Africa 2-1 after Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey awarded them a controversial penalty.
Lamptey was initially suspended for three months by African football’s ruling body CAF for awarding a penalty for a non-existant handball, with Fifa handing down the life ban in March.
News of the rematch comes as a boost for Senegal, who are placed third, one point behind Cape Verde and Burkina Faso in African zone qualifying Group D, with two games to go.
Only the group winners secure a ticket to the 2018 finals in Russia.
Fifa explained the decision to replay the game had come after sport’s highest court CAS had confirmed “the lifetime ban of match referee, Joseph Lamptey, for match manipulation, the ruling imposed by the Fifa Disciplinary and Appeal Committees”.
The statement added: “The match will be replayed within the November 2017 international window, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.
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It’s going to be an interesting season. It’s hard to call who’s going to win it since all the clubs change around so much. Dundalk should win it again on paper but this Cork side looks good. I really rated Bolger last season and thought he held pats together in midfield so with the players around him I’d say cork could be that bit harder to beat.
Are clubs still paying a yearly registration fee. If so what is it this year?
Hard to know if Dundalk will still have the hunger. Last season was all about becoming the first Dundalk team to win two in a row, this season, I think a decent run in Europe is the aim. Maybe that will affect our league progress. Having said that, it’s hard to see a better team in the league.
Maybe fix up the ground should be part of this seasons plan too for Dundalk with the recent success , it has to be the worst stadium in Ireland. How it got approved for European football last season still has me shocked.
Problem with lease that is preventing them from upgrading. http://www.the42.ie/dundalk-statement-oriel-park-2585281-Feb2016/
Compleatly forgot about that ! Fair point it’s a sticky situation.
Have to agree with you, the stadium is in a shocking state. Unfortunately the leasing issue seems to be holding up any developments. Personally I’d love to see the pitch ripped up and a return to grass.