FIFA bans Solomons out of WC

WELLINGTON: The Solomon Islands have been thrown out of this year's Fifa under-17 World Cup for fielding an over-age player during qualifying. The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said in a statement Sunday that the Solomons breached regulations by fielding a player in the regional under-16 tournament last year who was born before the qualifying date of January 1, 2002. The Solomons finished second to New Zealand in the tournament which qualified them for the under-17 World Cup to be hosted by Peru in October.