FA Cup

West Ham United fined over Diafra Sakho FA Cup controversy

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 04 February 2015

FIFA fines West Ham United £71,000 for fielding Diafra Sakho in the FA Cup after the striker had withdrawn from international duty through injury.

FIFA has fined West Ham United £71,000 for fielding Diafra Sakho in the FA Cup.

Sakho had withdrawn from the Senegal squad for the Africa Cup of Nations through injury but featured in the Hammers' FA Cup fourth-round clash with Bristol City just 18 days later, when the tournament in Africa was still taking place.

The striker's involvement proved to be pivotal as he scored the only goal of the game to fire his side into the fifth round of the competition.

West Ham reportedly faced the prospect of being booted out of the FA Cup as a result of the controversy, but FIFA has opted for a £71,000 fine and a reprimand for both the club and the player.

"The Senegalese FA was informed by West Ham United that Sakho was prevented from playing and travelling by plane due to injury and thus he did not join the Senegal team," read a statement from FIFA.

"On January 25 2015, the player took part in an official match for his club West Ham United. Senegal were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 on 27 January 2015.

"The FIFA disciplinary committee has found the club and the player to have violated... the regulations in relation to the match played by Sakho on January 25. The club has been fined 100,000 Swiss francs (£71,000) and issued with a reprimand, while the player has been sanctioned with a reprimand."

The punishment is a lenient one for Sam Allardyce's side, who made £90,000 in prize money for reaching the fifth round.

The Hammers will take on West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns next week as they look for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.