Football Federation Australia (FFA) received official confirmation from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee that all single cautions that have not resulted in an expulsion or in a match suspension are cancelled for the CONCACAF/AFC intercontinental play-off matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee made the decision after considering the relevant number of matches that Honduras and Australia have played during their respective qualification campaigns so far.
As there was a disproportion of matches by Australia and Honduras, this inequality was considered an exceptional circumstance and therefore the Committee decided to cancel all single cautions received by the players from Australia for the intercontinental play-off matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia .
The suspensions for Mark Milligan and Mathew Leckie for accumulation of yellow cards prior to the intercontinental play-off matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will remain.
FFA CEO David Gallop welcomed the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
“This decision is a victory for Fair Play,” said Gallop
“We thank FIFA for considering this exceptional circumstance and making their decision.
“This decision will allow both teams to field their best players, on even terms, for these extremely important play-off matches which is what all football fans want to see,” concluded Gallop.
The Caltex Socceroos face Honduras in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Friday 10 November 2017 and then at Stadium Australian in Sydney on Wednesday 15 November 2017.
The winner of these matches over two legs will earn a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.