Benin lodge complaint with FIFA over DR Congo substitutes in World Cup qualifier

The Benin Football Federation (FBF) has lodged a complaint with football’s world governing body, Fifa, over its World Cup qualifier against DR Congo.

The appeal is about the fact that DR Congo made four substitutions on four separate occasions during Sunday’s qualifier.

Under current FIFA regulations for international games, teams are allowed to make up to five substitutes but only during three windows in the game.

DR Congo won the tie 2-0 to progress to the African World Cup play-offs as winners of Group J at the expense of Benin, who had needed a draw in Kinshasa in order to advance.

“It is an appeal regarding the obvious violation of the laws of the game by the DRC,” Benin’s Sports Minister Oswald Homeky told BBC Sport Africa.

“The number and moments of replacement of players during a match is well known. The rules of the game are clear on that matter, and so we have a case here.

“The Benin Football Federation have asked Fifa to draw the conclusions and take the relevant measures of this obvious violation of the rules.”