West Ham and Diafra Sakho face FIFA disciplinary proceedings after the Senegal striker missed the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but still turned out for his club.
Sakho withdrew from the AFCON in Equatorial Guinea due to a back problem, but came on as a substitute to score the winner in his side’s FA Cup fourth round match at Bristol City.
The Senegal Football Federation lodged a complaint with FIFA after hearing of Sakho’s involvement in that match and coach Alain Giresse claimed the London club had set a “dangerous precedent” by opting to select the former Metz player.
His club manager Sam Allardyce backed the 25-year-old saying that he does not expect Sakho to be banned by the world governing body.
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But FIFA on Monday confirmed that it had opened proceedings against the London club and the player, who did not play in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League loss at Liverpool.
“We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the player Diafra Sakho and the club West Ham United for a potential violation of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players,” a FIFA spokesman, said.
Sakho spoke of his “sadness and anger” after Senegal fans showed their displeasure at him for missing the AFCON, in which they failed to qualify from Group C.
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