DUSHANBE, August 20, 1011, Asia-Plus  -- FIFA confirmed on August 19 that the Syrian soccer team has been disqualified from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and that Tajikistan is thereby reinstated into the competition.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee on August 17 declared the first-leg match of the Second Round (Syria-Tajikistan of July 23, 2011) to be lost by Syria by forfeit (0:3) due to an ineligible player (George Mourad) in the Syrian team taking part in this match.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee reached the same decision regarding the second leg match (Tajikistan-Syria of July 28, 2011) due to the same ineligible player also taking part in this match.

In conformity with Article 7 of the Regulations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the Bureau of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup took the following decisions:

1. The Syrian team is disqualified from the competition, losing their 2nd round knockout phase by forfeit.

2. The Tajikistan team is reinstated in the competition and will thus play in the 3rd round in Group C which resumes as of 2nd September 2011, in replacement of Syria.

Tajikistan will replace Syria in qualifying Group C alongside Japan, Uzbekistan and DPR Korea.

In accordance with Article 3, paragraph 4 of the Regulations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, these decisions are final and binding, and not subject to appeal.