The New York Times Friday said Iraq's national soccer federation remains angry because Qatar used a Brazilian-born midfielder who was not eligible to compete in the contest.

The player, "Emerson," who became a citizen of Qatar this spring, helped his adoptive nation win the match.

The Iraqi federation, citing the rules of soccer's world governing body, FIFA, believes that Qatar should have to forfeit the game and that Iraq should be allowed to advance in the qualifying tournament.

Any team found guilty of fielding an ineligible player must forfeit the match in question, but FIFA has denied Iraq's request to change the result.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee examined the case and determined that the Qatar Football Association was not responsible," a FIFA spokesman said in an e-mail message.

"It is unfair and now they will have to decide whether we will qualify or not," said Hussain Saeed, the head of the Iraqi national soccer federation.