SYDNEY - The Asian Football Confederation has dismissed a protest from Iran over its quarterfinal loss to Iraq in the continental championship, saying the complaint over the eligibility of Alaa Abdulzehra was unfounded.The AFC disciplinary committee held an emergency meeting Sunday, on the eve of the Asian Cup semifinal between South Korea and Iraq in Sydney, and gave Iran the opportunity to produce evidence to support its claim that Abdulzehra should have been disqualified for the quarterfinals last Friday due to an alleged doping infraction while he played for Tractor Sazi last year in in the Iranian domestic league.The disciplinary committee heard oral evidence from two (Iran) officials, deliberated the matter based on its merits, and decided that the protest was unfounded, the AFC said in a statement. The protest was, therefore, dismissed.In a dramatic quarterfinal match, Iran twice scored equalizers in extra time to force a draw before losing 7-6 in a penalty shootout to the 2007 Asian Cup champions.Abdulzehra denied he was subject to any doping sanctions, and Iraqi football federation chief Abdul Khaliq Masood said the midfielders position in the team shouldnt be in dispute.When (Iran) filed the objection we knew our position and the player position is correct, Masood said. Alaa Abdulzehra does not have any punishment from FIFA or the Asian federation. This allegation I think is not correct, because if he have any punishment they should (have) sent us a letter with his international card and mentioned that the player (was) being punished, and the reason for the punishment.Abdulzehra denied using any banned performance-enhancing substances, and said the Iranians were looking for excuses for their quarterfinal loss.This case should not be raised. Since I started playing football I dont have any issue like this, I never drink anything illegal, and if I need to take any (medication) I always ask the team doctor, he said. The Iranian team should be better than that. If a team cant beat you on the pitch, it should not try to find other excuses.FIFA declined to comment on the case, saying it was under the AFCs jurisdiction. Joe Maddon Cubs Jersey .com) - John Wall had 15 points, 12 assists and four steals as the Washington Wizards defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 92-85 on Monday night. Kendall Graveman Cubs Jersey . CSKA received the heavier punishment of playing its next European home game behind closed doors, after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols in the Czech Republic during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen on Dec. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2370t-david-bote-jersey-cubs.html .J. -- The NHL reduced its penalty against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for signing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010. Brandon Kintzler Jersey . The Professional Referee Organization, which manages game officials for the U.S. Soccer Federation and MLS, notified the Professional Soccer Referee Association of the lockout and said replacement officials will be used. Daniel Descalso Cubs Jersey . - Novak Djokovic beat John Isner 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open, where hell resume his longtime rivalry with Roger Federer.MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - A gun-like sensor is put against the head of each person as soon as they get off a plane in Equatorial Guinea, the host country for the African Cup of Nations. When the sensor beeps, the man holding it nods and the passenger is ordered to move along.Next, unsmiling women wearing white coats and masks spray cleansing gel on everyones hands and tell them to rub them together. And questionnaires have to be filled in, asking if youve had a fever in the last 21 days. The body temperature of everyone is checked.Just part of the preparations for Africas big soccer tournament.In the wake of the terrible West African Ebola outbreak, tournament organizers the Confederation of African Football were certain the Jan. 17-Feb. 8 African Cup should go ahead, confident the disease wouldnt be a threat. Now they have to make sure it wont be after dumping Morocco as host because of that countrys fears over Ebola and desire to postpone the 16-team event for up to a year.CAF refused Moroccos suggestion and chose Equatorial Guinea as a short-notice replacement. It was really CAFs only choice as no one else wanted the tournament and its thousands of travellers.When all (Equatorial) Guineans learnt that the African Nations Cup was going to be played here, everyone was afraid, we were terrified, Genoveva Abesolo Obunu, an official with Equatorial Guineas health ministry, said. But when we learnt about the steps the government was taking to prevent the sickness, the fear subsided.So the tournament will go on, kicking off this weekend in the oil-rich Central African nation halfway up the continents west coast. It is Equatorial Guineas second go at the African Cup in three years after co-hosting with Gabon in 2012.CAF and Equatorial Guinean authorities have announced this time that everyone arriving in the coming days — players, officials, fans, everyone — will undergo Ebola screening. No one is exempt, no matter where thhey come from.ddddddddddddIn the airport terminal in Malabo, the capital, posters describing the dreaded symptoms of the deadly virus hang alongside triumphant photos of the countrys president holding the African Cup trophy. Pictures warning people of the possible implications of vomiting and diarrhea sit next to the soccer championships colorful and cheery mascot; a squirrel-like creature with red, blue, green and white fur kicking a ball.Equatorial Guinea has no reported Ebola cases. Guinea, far away in West Africa, is one of the three countries badly-affected by Ebola and the only one of the three to have a team qualify for the tournament. But the disease — which has killed more than 8,000 people — will call for constant vigilance over the next three weeks, authorities here say.In Bata, Equatorial Guineas biggest city, posters in the national language Spanish call above all for an African Cup without Ebola. Ebola screening tests also take place at its airport, this time on the tarmac as travellers walk toward the terminal.But its not all doom and gloom.Equatorial Guineas reward for taking on the tournament with just two months to prepare is the reinstatement of its team as host nation in place of Morocco. The decision was contentious because Equatorial Guinea had been disqualified from the Cup of Nations last year for fielding an ineligible player. Now its back in.The people of Bata are overjoyed, Bata resident Pedro Nga said, speaking French, the countrys second language. We will applaud and support the team, thats all I can say.Equatorial Guinea opens the African Cup on Saturday against Republic of Congo in Bata. Burkina Faso then plays Gabon at the same stadium in the first of a series of double-headers. Games will also be at three other venues: Malabo and two border towns in the far east, Ebebiyin and Mongomo.___AP video journalist Andy Drake contributed to this report from Bata, Equatorial Guinea. ' ' '