FIFA reject Burkina Faso's Algeria appeal

Madjid Bougherra (left) celebrates after scoring a goal against Burkina Faso during their World Cup qualifier in Blida, Algeria on November 19, 2013. By Farouk Batiche (AFP)

Paris (AFP) - Burkina Faso's appeal against their elimination from World Cup qualifying by Algeria has been rejected, FIFA said on Tuesday.

The Burkina Faso football federation (FBF) had claimed Algeria defender Madjid Bougherra was ineligible for the teams' play-off match in Algiers last week.

Bougherra scored the only goal of the game on November 19, which gave Algeria victory on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

But FIFA told AFP on Tuesday that: "Burkina Faso had not respected the formal conditions for an appeal" and that "Algeria had not committed any infraction".

Algerian Football Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua said he was not worried: "We're calm and serene. We're at the World Cup and Bougherra was not suspended for the Algeria-Burkina Faso match."

According to FBF president Sita Sangare, Bougherra picked up a yellow card during the group stage of qualifying against Mali and also went into the book during Burkina Faso's 3-2 win in the first leg of their play-off, which should have ruled him out of the second leg.