FIFA has cleared the air on the determining factor s for selecting the four best third place finishers at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 to join those who have automatically qualified as the best two teams in each group for the second round as anxiety builds up among fans.
Unfortunately for most fans, most of the third best placed team have three points each and after the last four games in the group stage today, more with same points haul will join the fray. This is why FIFA wants football fans to have a glimpse of the rule.
Germany and New Zealand are both through to the Round of 16 as two of the best third-place teams, but there are still two slots yet to be filled.
There is still all to play for in Groups E and F, and now is a good time hence FIFA are restating the rules governing the qualification of the other teams in case there is a deadlock as expected.
According to FIFA, “The first determining factor is goal difference. The second is the number of goals scored. If, at this stage, teams are still level, then Fair-Play ranking will be used as the third criteria.
“The fair-play ranking is as follows: -1 for yellow card, -3 for a red card (straight or 2 yellows in the same game), -4 in case of a yellow card followed by a straight red card in the same game. And if the teams are still even at this point, a drawing of lots will determine the qualified team(s).
The draw, if needed, would take place on Sunday 1 November in Kaduna at 21h30 local time.