Fifa Fine, Reprimands West Ham Over Sakho

West Ham have received a £71,000 fine and chided by Fifa’s disciplinary committee over Diafra Sakho’s appearance in an FA Cup tie 18 days after his withdrawal from Senegal’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Sakho, 25, pulled out of the Equatorial Guinea showpiece with a back injury, but later featured and scored for Sam Allardyce’s side in their 1-0 win over Bristol City on 25 January.

West Ham claimed Sakho could not play at the Afcon because a back injury had prevented him from flying.

Diafra Sakho Pulled Out of Afcon 2015 Due to a Back Injury But Went on to Feature for West Ham in an FA Cup Match. Image: Getty.
Diafra Sakho Pulled Out of Afcon 2015 Due to a Back Injury But Went on to Feature for West Ham in an FA Cup Match. Image: Getty.

According to world football’s governing body’s statutes, a player cannot appear for a club if he was meant to be on international duty.

Fifa has reprimanded both the club and Sakho, 25, but no action whatsoever has been taken over their place in the FA Cup, contrary to speculations about an impending expulsion from the tournament.

A fine of 100,000 Swiss francs (£71,000) has been levied against West Ham after a disciplinary committee deemed they have breeched its regulations by playing the Senegalese at Bristol City

The Hammers face a trip to West Brom in the fifth round of the oldest football competition on Saturday, 14 February. Sakho, who missed Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League defeat by Liverpool as a precaution, is now available for Sunday’s game at home to Manchester United.

The club have issued a statement to confirm Fifa’s decision but says they “will now be focusing their concentration on the game against Manchester United on Sunday.”

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