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FIFA’s axe dangles over Ecuador, winner of Qatar 2022 first match

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Doha, State of Qatar

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Ecuadorian Football Association due to chants by Ecuadorian supporters during the Qatar v. Ecuador FIFA World Cup match played on Sunday.

According to FIFA, the proceedings were opened on the basis of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

The relevant part of the cited article is on discrimination. It reads; ‘Any person who offends the dignity or integrity of a country, a person or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory or derogatory words or actions (by any means whatsoever) on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political opinion, wealth, birth or any other status or any other reason, shall be sanctioned with a suspension lasting at least ten matches or a specific period, or any other appropriate disciplinary measure.’

Part 2 of the article points out the possible sanction. “If one or more of an association’s or club’s supporters engage in the behaviour described in paragraph 1, the association or club responsible will be subject to the following disciplinary measures: a) For a first offence, playing a match with a limited number of spectators and a fine of at least CHF 20,000 shall be imposed on the association or club concerned;”

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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