Mark Bresciano’s World Cup chances are in doubt after he was suspended for four months over an illegal transfer to his Qatari football club.

FIFA has ruled the Socceroos midfielder’s switch from the United Arab Emirates club Al Nasr to Qatar’s Al Gharafa was illegal, and banned the club from making transfers for a year.

Bresciano has also been fined $1.8 million on top of the four month suspension.

The suspension means Bresciano faces the prospect of missing the entire build-up to the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign in Brazil.

Al Gharafa has appealed against FIFA’s verdict to the Court of Arbitration in Sport.

“This is not a unique case, there are many precedents, we as a club are not a part of this case, as the player ended his contract with his former club before joining us,” Al Gharafa club secretary Jassim Al Manosuri said in a statement.

“Our next step will be filing an appeal to the court of arbitration for sport.”

Bresciano’s former club Al Nasr says it has received a letter from FIFA granting it the right to compensation.

Bresciano is currently in a Socceroos training camp ahead of Tuesday night’s friendly against Costa Rica.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) officials were made aware of FIFA’s ruling on Saturday and were studying the judgement, the report said.

“We will do all we can to assist Marco Bresciano and his representatives in having the judgement swiftly overturned and set aside,” an FFA spokesperson told News Corp.

“The advice from FIFA is that the suspension doesn’t apply to Tuesday night’s match against Costa Rica.

“Marco is available for selection and will continue his preparations with the squad.”

FFA officials were not immediately available for further comment.