West Ham fined £71,000 by FIFA for playing Sakho

West Ham United have been fined £71,000 by FIFA for breaching rules over striker Diafra Sakho.

Sakho withdrew from Senegal’s Orange Africa Cup of Nations squad with a back injury but scored 18 days later in his club’s 1-0 win at Bristol City in the FA Cup.

FIFA rules prevent a player appearing for his club if he is supposed to be on international duty.

“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,” a statement from the world body said.

“On 25 January 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 25 January. The club has been fined 100,000 Swiss francs and issued with a reprimand, while the player has been sanctioned with a reprimand.”

West Ham issued a brief statement following FIFA’s decision.

“The club and the player have received the decision and will now be focusing their concentration on the game against Manchester United on Sunday,” it read.

But the Hammers have escaped potential expulsion from the FA Cup and will travel to West Brom in the fifth round on Saturday February 14.

They will also be able to select Sakho, their top scorer this season, for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League home match against Manchester United.