Honduras awarded 3-0 win at Gold Cup ahead of Canada game

French Guiana midfielder Florent Malouda (15) controls the ball in front of Honduras midfielder Alfredo Mejia (8) in the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Houston, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (David J. Phillip/AP)

The Florent Malouda debacle is finally over.

CONCACAF announced early Friday morning that French Guiana forfeited Tuesday’s Gold Cup match with Honduras, who was awarded a 3-0 victory due to Malouda starting the game.

The French Guianese federation was also fined an undisclosed amount and Malouda was handed a two-match suspension. [sidebar]

Malouda was ruled ineligible as he is a former France international and the Gold Cup adheres to FIFA’s eligibility rules. Cap-tied players cannot represent another national team at tournaments that follow FIFA rules.

With the additional victory, Honduras is now one point behind Canada and Costa Rica, who each have four points in Group A.

Honduras and Canada square off in their final group game on Friday night, while Costa Rica faces French Guiana.

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