Bolivia forfeits two matches for fielding ineligible player

Bolivia's 2-0 victory over Peru on September 1 and 0-0 draw with Chile five days later have been expunged from the records, with its opponents awarded 3-0 wins in the World Cup qualifiers.

Nelson Cabrera made his Bolivia debut in a friendly against the United States in May 2016 - after winning a cap for Paraguay in 2007

Bolivia has had two of its 2018 World Cup qualifiers declared to be forfeited by FIFA after it fielded an ineligible player.

Bolivia's 2-0 victory over Peru on September 1 and 0-0 draw with Chile five days later have been expunged from the records, with its opponents awarded 3-0 wins instead. The Bolivian Football Association (FBF) has also been handed a fine of 12,000 Swiss francs (US$12,250).

The sanctions are related to Paraguay-born defender Nelson Cabrera, who has played for Bolivian club Bolivar since 2012.

Cabrera made his Bolivia debut in a friendly against the United States in May 2016 - after winning a cap for Paraguay in 2007 - and represented the country at the Copa America Centenario last June.

However, his participation in two 2018 World Cup qualifiers was found to be "in breach of the rules on eligibility to play for representative teams set out in the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes".

The loss of four points for Bolivia means it remains ninth but is now 12 points adrift of a play-off spot.

Chile, meanwhile, moves into fifth at the expense of Argentina, which it joins on 16 points, and Peru remains eighth.