The IFA had filed a first appeal with FIFA in order to challenge the participation of the player Emerson in the Qatari national team in the match between Qatar and Iraq (2-0) that was played in Doha on 26 March 2008 (qualifying tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2010).

A CAS Panel composed of Jose-Juan Pinto, Attorney-at-law in Barcelona, Spain (President) and Mr David Askinas of Colorado Springs, USA and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Haas of Zurich, Switzerland held an oral hearing at the CAS Court Office in Lausanne on 10 September 2008.

The CAS Panel noted that the appeal fee was paid by the IFA to FIFA eleven days after the expiry of the time limit and that the IFA did not have any particular reasons to justify such a late payment. The CAS arbitrators also emphasised that the IFA was fully aware of the conditions for the filing of an appeal with FIFA, in view of the correspondence exchanged between the two federations at a time when the appeal was still possible.

As a consequence, the appeal filed by the IFA is dismissed and the result of the match Qatar-Iraq of 26 March 2008 is confirmed.