Japan have been awarded a 3-0 win over Venezuela by FIFA after the South Americans fielded Salomon Rondon despite the striker being ineligible for the friendly.
The game in Yokohama on Sep. 9 ended as a 2-2 draw, though Rondon's appearance has caused football's governing body to act given that he was sent off late in Venezuela's 3-1 friendly defeat to South Korea on Sep. 5.
"We have heard from FIFA that Japan won't be affected negatively," AFP reports JFA technical director Hiromi Hara as telling local media. "Therefore, even if Venezuela are punished, Japan's appearances and goalscorers [Yoshinori Muto and Gaku Shibasaki] will remain as they are."
The decision means Japan have now won four of their last five friendlies after a disappointing 2014 World Cup.
New coach Javier Aguirre will be under pressure to retain the Asian Cup when Japan travel to Australia for the tournament in January.