Chile cleared to play in SA

Santiago - Chilean club Rangers has dropped a court case that threatened the participation of the national team at next year's World Cup.

FIFA, the governing body of world football, had said it could kick Chile out of the World Cup unless Rangers withdrew the court case, which contested the club's demotion to the second division of the national league.

The move clears the way for Chile to play in the tournament, its first appearance since 1998.

The club's move came late Thursday after FIFA had suggested it could expel the national federation, which would leave the national team out of the tournament in South Africa.

Rangers was deducted three points for using six foreign players - the limit is five - in a league match on Nov. 8. The three points cost the club relegation to the second division, and last week it brought the case to a Chilean court.

Chile is one of five South American nations, along with Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, to have qualified for the finals.