The International Football Federation (FIFA) rejected Monday, December 5 the complaint filed last Thursday by the French Football Federation (FFF) to change the score of Tunisia-France (1-0) at the World Cup-2022 after the cancellation, subsequent to the final whistle, a goal from Antoine Griezmann.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has rejected the complaint submitted by the French Football Federation in connection with the Tunisia-France World Cup match played on November 30”she wrote in a short press release, without specifying the reasons for this rejection.
The France team, beaten last Wednesday during this match without much stake at the Education City stadium in Doha, had expressed doubts about the use of video assistance to arbitration (VAR) to cancel the goal scored by Antoine Griezmann eight minutes after the end of regulation time.
In its complaint, France pointed out that the VAR was used “after the restart of play and after the end of the match”which is against the protocol for using this technology, according to the explanation of a federal source.
Under threat from England
A modification of the final result would in any case have changed nothing in the Group D standings: Tunisia were eliminated in both cases and France qualified to face Poland, whom they beat 3-1 on Sunday in the round of 16. final. In the quarterfinals, they will face England on Saturday.
On the other hand, the FFF could consider itself aggrieved concerning the fifa world ranking : the defeat against Tunisia will cause France to lose around 38 points, currently fourth, which will place them under threat from England, who were fifth before the World Cup. A draw would have been more advantageous for this classification used to designate the seeds of several international competitions.
Regarding financial allocations, the impact of a defeat is nil for the Federation. Qualification to the round of 16 brought in $13 million, regardless of ranking and number of wins, according to FIFA scales.
According to video assistance protocol, “if play has resumed after being stopped, the referee cannot carry out an analysis except in the case of mistaken identity or in the case of an offense liable to exclusion such as violent behavior, spitting, biting, and/or hurtful, rude or abusive words or actions”.