Solomon Islands not going to Malaysia
FIFA rules have stopped the Solomon Islands from playing in the Airmarine Cup.
FIFA rules have stopped the Solomon Islands from playing in the Airmarine Cup.
As Football in Oceania reported on Monday, the Solomon Islands men’s team were set to go to Malaysia to play two matches in an invitational tournament.
READ MORE: Solomon Islands invited to tournament
The FIFA International Match Calendar, specifically made to increase international friendly matches being played, for March is between 18-26.
In an international window, teams can play no more than two matches according to FIFA rules.
The tournament in Malaysia, from March 20-23, included two games and the already arranged friendly with Chinese Taipei, on March 24, makes it a total of three matches.
That means that something has to give as it is one match more than is allowed.
Chinese Taipei and Vanuatu still happening
“We received advise from FIFA and OFC under the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of players, Annexe 1 of players to association teams, there is a maximum of 2 matches to be played in an international window,” Solomon Islands Football Federation CEO Leonard Paia told the SIFF website.
“As such our desire to participate at the Malaysia 4 nations tournament would not be possible now as we already had approval from FIFA and OFC to play Chinese Taipei on 24th of March.
The friendly against Chinese Taipei will be played as it was arranged first, but hopefully, the Solomon Islands will be invited to similar tournaments in the future.
The Vanuatu friendly is set to take place on March 17 and therefore falls outside of the FIFA window so it will not be affected.
Below is the full squad for those two friendly matches.
