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« on: October 25, 2005, 12:00:08 AM »
BY NIGEL SIMON
JACK WARNER, Fifa vice-president and special advisor to the T&T Football Federation, expects to get official confirmation today from the world governing body for the sport on the status of the T&T players with yellow cards, before the play-off with Bahrain for one of five remaining berths to the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.
The yellow-card accumulation of the T&T players became the subject of discussion after the Warriors beat Mexico 2-1 to clinch the play-off spot in the Concacaf final round World Cup qualifiers, and will meet Bahrain, the Asian play-off qualifier on November 12 and 16.
It was felt by the T&T management that the cards picked up by the players would be wiped off for the Bahrain matches, while in some quarters it was stated that the clean slate for the cautioned players will only come into effect if the team qualifies for Germany.
Contacted yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland Warner said:
“FIFA has received my request to have the cautions wiped clean and they will be making an official release tomorrow (today).’
Warner noted that his request was not only made to benefit T&T and Bahrain, but it will also come into effect for the teams that are still involved in the European play-offs in Spain, Slovakia, Norway, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Turkey.
Uruguay and Australia will also be involve in a South America and Oceanian Zone play-off.
As it stands, T&T players Brent Sancho, Dwight Yorke, Densil Theobald, Avery John, Marvin Andrews, Aurtis Whitley, Brent Rahim, Anton Pierre, Carlos Edwards, Cyd Gray, Kenwyne Jones and Christopher Birchall were booked during the two years of qualification matches, dating back to the Caribbean Zone preliminary matches.
These players are in danger of missing the away match to Bahrain on November 16, should they pick up a caution in the November 12 home-leg at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo if Warner is not successful with his proposal to the disciplinary committee of Fifa, a caution for any one of the above players will result in a suspension for the next match.
Bahrain is also in a spot of bother should Fifa decide against dismissing the request
The Bahraini players who are one card away from automatic suspension are Mohammed Hubal, Saleh Farhan, Hassan Baba, Husain Ahmed, Sayed Adnan, Abdullah Marzooq, Ahmed Taleb, Rased Abdul Rahman and Naser Duaij.
Players who have served one match suspensions already because of two yellow cards, or a red card expulsion, are Salmeen Mohammed, Sayed Jalal, Hassan Baba, Talal Mohammed and Husain Mohammed Mohammed. Salmeen Mohammed (three yellows) and Talal Mohammed have also picked up an additional caution.