FIFA vetoes Fernando's request to play for Portugal

Rio di Janeiro: Football`s governing body FIFA has vetoed a request by Porto`s Brazil-born midfielder Fernando to play for Portugal in the World Cup.

The 26-year-old was granted Portuguese nationality last December having represented Porto since signing from Brazil`s Vila Nova in 2007, reports Xinhua.

But in a statement released Friday, the Portuguese Football Federation revealed FIFA had dashed the player`s hope of representing his adopted country at this year`s World Cup.

"FIFA considered that the player did not hold Portuguese nationality when he played for Brazil in the under-20 World Cup qualifiers, as required by federation regulations," the statement said. Fernando had hoped to join a long list of Brazil-born players to switch their allegiance.

Recent examples include Deco (Portugal), Marcos Senna (Spain), Pepe (Portugal) and Diego Costa (Spain).