FIFA SANCTIONS SOUTH AFRICA FOR FIELDING ILLEGIBLE PLAYER
FIFA has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their March 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
Mokoena, who was suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in previous matches, featured in South Africa’s 2-0 victory, prompting FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee to overturn the result.
The committee has awarded the match to Lesotho with a 3-0 scoreline, docked South Africa three points, and imposed a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs (₦18.8 million).
In addition, Mokoena received a formal warning for his role in the violation, while SAFA faces a major setback in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The ruling, made under Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the qualifiers regulations, significantly hampers South Africa’s chances of progressing to the 2026 World Cup.
SAFA has ten days to request the full grounds of the decision and may appeal the sanction, but the development has already shifted the dynamics in Group C of the African qualifiers.
